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Well, my ah-ha moment is not a poignant one, but a practical problem. I hope this isn’t TMI, but my moment was when I had to figure out a new way to wipe my behind because I could no longer reach. :sneaky: I was appalled that I couldn’t normally perform a function that was necessary to everyday life. I immediately thought about some of the folks on Big Medicine who are bedridden and totally dependant on another person to take care of them. I realized then and there that I was heading in their same direction, even though it was far down the road, I was heading straight for it. I decided to get while the getting was good.

I second the masterbation/sex option... I find that a good 5-6 Os....helps considerably.... :thumbup: Was that TMI??? Rain

Lynn, today is my 6th day post-op also and I've had a pretty rough day also. My stomach was really gassy all morning, then diarhea set in (TMI, sorry). I also was really tired and laid down to take a nap only to be awakened by my case manager from the disability group from work letting me know that my time off work is covered through next Monday, so at least I can quit worrying about that. But I've felt like I've been run over by a truck today. I haven't got much liquid down today either. So far I've got in about 32 grams of protein but only about 24 oz of water, my stomach just didn't feel like taking on any more. I start my vitamins tomorrow, so maybe that will help with my tiredness.

I think a lot of people gain when they switch from liquids to mushies -- all of a sudden you've got solid food in your body again, and start pooping... yeah, TMI. :wink:

I want to feel my dgt wrap her arms around my waist and hug me tight for the first time in her 6 yrs. I want to ride a rollercoaster again! I want to get married and not have to wear a girdle under my dress, and on my honeymoon I want my husband to carry me over the threshold, strip we down, LOVE what he sees,(my guy and I are waiting until we get maried to make love. He's never seen me naked!) and make love to me standing up...ok TMI! LOL! I just want to to be the young woman that I am, and be here to enjoy getting old with my beautiful child, and the man who loves me! By God's grace I know this will happen!

I was banded on 2/22..it was 7 days before I pooped...I tried MOM but it was nasty...so I started diluting prune juice in equal parts & Benefiber is AWESOME...you can mix it in soups or shakes... Anyway, dont worry it comes with the territory..now I have 1 big BM a day...WOW that is TMI. LOL

Ahhhhhhhhhh.....it really feels like spring here, FINALLY! There is still one big clump of black, ugly snow in the front yard......but I suspect it will be gone by Monday! Did a lot of walking today....went to the grocery store....UGH....forgetting that Saturday is sample day AND root beer float day....the Special Olympics sells floats on Saturdays to raise money...hell, they'll probably go broke now! NOT REALLY, I still gave them them $2.....but the kid just didn't get why I didn't want the float! Then took a quick walk to the corner and back.....the neighbor's horse should foal any time, I keep hoping to catch it! Daughter and I took a spin around Sephora, too.....the SECOND happiest place on earth..... Feeling really good, if I could shake the shoulder pain....I would be pain-free! The heating pad helps when I'm sitting down, though! TMI Time.......haven't pooped since Tuesday.....I don't feel really cramped or bloated...I guess it's just because there's nothing there!! Still feel fairly satisfied on my 1/2 c. cream Soup or cream of wheat in the am, so that's good! All in all, so far, so freaking good!

thanks marillon... :smile: my PS did say he basically 'traumatized' my body and its not too happy right now. im still quite swollen and my tum feels like ive done a billion crunches right now. this muscle ache (not pain, just almost a dull ache) has just started early this week... grrrr) im seeing my giggly thighs and horrid boobs/arms now even more too... this is going to be a really long process. but im starting to realize that there are not many perfect people in the world. i saw a co-worker today (she may weigh 140 is about 5'8" looks GREAT) and she has the back fat/side boobies going on ... i need to redefine my version of 'perfect'... i just ordered a book from Amazon: When Women Stop Hating Their Bodies: Freeing Yourself from Food and Weight Obsession... hopefully that will help. kinda TMI ... right now, my tummy is flat (as in i can go from where my ribcage used to be :wink2: stupid swelling alllll the way down to my hoo-ha in a flat line ... no bumps, no ridges, just a very slight swollen mound of my tummy...) before, it was a chore just getting there :wink2: i'll post a review of the book once i finally get it and read it.

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:

Ok random question, I 'plan' to start 'trying' to have kids next year. I know that's something you're not suppose to say cause it jinxes you? Hah hah oh well.. I've just been noticing all kinds of baby stuff lately, and something came to mind.. so figured I'd ask you V's enough of you have kids (and grand kids!). Did you ever worry that DH wouldn't be daddy like? I saw it first hand when drug addict brother had a kid, for about 6 months he was so fatherly.. then baby & mom moved to NJ.. and when she visited us for the first time in 6 years last summer, my brother was a LOUSY dad, he didn't want anything to do with her, he didn't talk to her like a kid, it was really akward. In general DH doesn't like kids, always complains about them in public (but to be fair, I do too). Whenever he's been in a situation with other people's kids, he's WONDERFUL with them, it's like night and day. But I have never seen him around babies, and I worry he won't bond with a baby. I don't know why. I guess because he's said on many occasions he doesn't want to be there when it's born cause it's nasty & disgusting... How can he even think that?! Does something snap in them? Anyone else's DH throw a fit about havin to be there for the birth of their kid? I'm goin to bed early, so I'll see ya'll tomorrow morning! I have the blood work tomorrow morning and can't eat after 9pm.. instead of worrying about it I'm just going to sleep! And one more thing, COVER YOUR EYES MICHELLE!!!!! It may be TMI, but if I can't tell you guys, who can I tell hah! Me & DH never use condoms, but for this whacky drug we gotta start (or I get an IUD.. eek.. mom says she doesn't know why I don't, but that's one of those things I've always thought looked extremely scary). So, instead of gettin boring condoms, I looked up the fancy schmancy 'fun' ones on the internet and found the best reviews.. bought boxes of all kindsa goofy looking ones lol.

Here is a list of common message board terms created by Cindy M and I have added to it. You may know others that we have missed. Please add to this list. This should help our newbies and others that just want to know what we are typing in Chat or on the forums when we use these shortcuts. 250/175/130 = Was/Am/Wannabe = starting weight/current weight/goal weight BTW = By the way B/C = Because BP = Blood Pressure BRB = Be Right Back AFK: Away From Keyboard (tell people you’re stepping away for a moment) AFW: Away From Windows (You are there, but not watching for a moment, but will respond soon) CUL8R = See you later CYA ( cya ) = See Ya CYA = Cover Your Arse (In addition to "See Ya Later") DB = Darling Brother, Dear Brother or whatever “D” word depending on mood DD = Darling Daughter, Dear Daughter or whatever “D” word depending on mood DH = Darling Husband, Dear Husband or whatever “D” word depending on mood DS = Darling Son, Dear Son or Darling Sister, Dear Sister or whatever “D” word depending on mood DS = Duodenal Switch DW = Darling Wife, Dear Wife or whatever “D” word depending on mood FAQ = Frequently asked questions. FWIW = For What It's Worth FYI = For your information. GR8 = Great GTG / GTR: Got to go / run HTH = Hope this helps. or Hope that helps. IMHO ( imho ) = In My Honest Opinion, In My Humble Opinion IMO ( imo ) = In My Opinion IT = Information Technology. KISS = Keep It Simple Stupid. LAP = Laparoscopic Procedure L8TR ( l8tr ) = Later ( Like see ya later ) LMAO = Laughing My A$$ Off LOL ( lol ) = Laugh Out Loud MB = Message Board. NEWBEE ( newbee, newbie ) = New user of Internet and or computer. NICK ( nick ) = Name used by people ( Individual ) on the Internet. NSV = non scale victory (a change other than the scale…something suddenly fits, others notice your weight loss, etc.) OMG = Oh My God, Oh My Gosh OP = Original Poster OT = Off Topic, used on message boards when the post is not on the threads subject.. PB = Productive Burp (quick vomit without the stomach acid since it is just the food in your pouch) PCP = Primary Care Physician PIC ( pic ) = Picture PPL ( ppl ) = People PS = Plastic Surgery RTFP = read the fine print RNY = Roux En Y (Gastric Bypass Surgery) ROFL ( rofl ) = Rolling On Floor Laughing ROFLMAO = Rolling on floor laughing my a** off SLIME- an overproduction of saliva that occurs in an attempt to force an obstructed piece of food down SNAFU = situation normal, all fouled up SV = scale victory (when the numbers on the scale actually show a change) SWEET SPOT= when you're losing 1-2 lbs/week on average over time and your sensible meals are making you full, so you don’t get physically hungry again for a good 3 to 4 hours TMI = Too Much Information TT = Tummy Tuck TTFN = Ta Ta For Now TTYL = Talk to you later TYFS = Thank you for sharing URL ( url ) = Uniform Resource Locater, Internet address of a web page ( http://sitename ) YMMV = Your Mileage May Vary WTF ( wtf ) = What the Freak or your other favorite explicative WTG = Way To Go! WLS = Weight Loss Surgery YGG - You Go Girl! ZZZZZZ ( zzzzz ) = sleeping or Bored

Hi Everyone! Hi Lynn: Yep, I hijacked the life class recipes.....Since I have tested quite a few and they were pretty good I wanted to share! Duke: To get the "shrinking shamrock" pictures, just right click on the one you like, then go to edit signature at the upper right hand portion of this page and paste into your signature. As far as the tickers, click on one of the various ones and it will open a new window on your computer. Follow the directions and you will want to paste the gobblegook at the end to your signature. Let me know if you need more detailed instructions. Pre-op testing - I was told by the hospital it would take 3 hours. I have already had the upper GI test and chest x-ray. I'm taking the x-ray with me. I may call the doctor's office and ask for a copy of the upper GI report. They did tell me no food or anything to drink after midnight. The upper GI wasn't pleasant so I hope I don't have to do that again. (****WARNING TMI!**** nobody warned me about the albino poop!) I guess I'll have to do the EKG again, which was no big deal and they will draw blood. I was just trying to find out if there was anything else. Thanks everyone for the information! Nadian: Sorry to hear that it is so tough on you. I am sure that some of the folks who are already banded will come up with some suggestions for you.

OK...this is TMI...but I can tell you Jtori that there is no need to feel embarrased...nurses and docs have seen it all and it is part of "nature". That being said, I was thinking it sounded like PCOS which I have / had? I even asked a doc the other day...I had a hysterectomy last June and have no parts left...since I do not have ovaries do I still have polysistic ovarian syndrome???She said, "Good question"...anyway, I feel your pain...I bled 20 to 24 days a month for 1 year! then I had an ablation and it reduced it to @10 days! NOw, it is heaven...by the way...I'm still anemic...and it has almost been a year??? But I am finally losing weight....Good Luck! Hang tough!

B-Rog, That is awesome! That is so not TMI, it is something to look forward too. Now you arent going in blind sided and cutting yourself. Love it.

For me, if that was the case, I would never be able to eat. Seriously, I slime badly over minimal things. Foods that I do great with one day, I can't even get one tiny bite down the next day and it isn't about my band being to tight. I have a fickle esophagus. Warning **** TMI **** TMI Ahead****** Yesterday I had tiny piece of chicken for a snack and for 2 hours I had issues with it. I barfed 6-8 times and nothing came up but slime and a bit of discolored or should I say, chicken colored slime. This type of thing, not necessarily this bad, happens at least 5 times a week. I've gone to liquids for 24 hours after an episode and it makes no difference when I go back to regular food or even soft foods again. It is hit or miss. Drives me nuts! :grouphug:

YEAH!!! Laura...you rock sista! Thanks...now I am officially a shrinkin violet! TracyKS~ So glad to have you back. You look AMAZING in the pix. I gotta go start drinking water. I have to have nearly 32 oz in bladder AND HOLD IT while they do the ultrasound. Yes, it is transvaginal...but I don't care. As long as I get "fixed" soon. I am going on 2 straight months w/ a period. WTF??? I should invest in Tampax, Kotex, and Fruit of the Loom stock! I know...TMI...but I can't stand it anymore. So my big day of reading has turned into tons of running around. First, went to chiropractor, then to post office, then to bank w/ brother (had to wait for him), then to his office to sign some papers, then to CPK for lunch (California Pizza Kitchen). Not doing tooo good these days. Gotta get my mojo back. I get a fill next Wed...that should help. Just don't want to go back to bulemia (sp) again. That sucked eggs. Gonna go read for a bit before my appt! Thanks again Laura! I have my before pix (no body has seen them). They are freakin ugly!

I had surgery on 3/4 at 10am. Great time cause I got to sleep in a bit. Arrived at the hospital with my sister and husband and was directed to the surgical waiting area. They called my name, I was taken to pre op and given a gown , slippers and a hat, pointed to a tiny restroom. I changed, put my clothes in the bag with my name on it and came out into the pre op area with the beds separated by curtians. I was weighted (255) and assigned a bed. Note on the gown- nice and big made of soft paper and had velcro at the shoulders for-I found out later- ease of removal in surgery. The nurse asked me a million questions-allergies, what I was there for, name, is the ID band correct, medication Im taking. She started the IV, gave me a shot of Lovenox(hurt,stings) and my family was brought in. Anesthesiologist came looked at chart and left. Sidebar- I contacted the complementary medicine department at the hospital about relaxation therapy before surgery and was told to purchase a cd in the gift shop and listen to it before surgery. Than this lady, Irene would come up to pre op to help me with the stress of the surgery. Ok Im game. I buy& listen. In comes Irene all cheery, did I listen to the cd? yes. Am I still nervous? yes. How about listening to the cd again? screw the cd, I need more then the cd. She rubs my forehead and ears kind of like a massage, but not. She has stinky perfume. Ok I smiled said she could stop. Now she just hovered next to the bed talking about grace and mercy. I tuned her out. My Dr comes in & starts talking about the procedure and how everything will be fine. OK here it comes- I say It will be fine as long as I don't have a catheter. Dr says well thats not how they do it here. Wait for it..... Amanda FREAKS!!!!! I banged both hands on the rails of the bed and started in on how I was the patient and what I said goes. I gotta give the Dr credit he didn't freak (Irene jumped and disappeared) He just continued talking like I never popped a fuse and said maybe I wasn't ready for the band. My sister gives me the look and said I needed to explain why I wasn't going to have the cath. Now Im a little embarrassed about popping off and pissed that the cath has anything to do with getting banded. Staring off into the ceiling I explain why- infection, pain, and (the kicker) if no cath I will get up and walk more in recovery as with the cath I will remain glued to the bed. I will be a happier more willing patient. The Dr stops, blinks, says OK, and walks away. I am so pleased with myself. The Anesthesia nurse comes in with the good drugs, asks me who I am then pumps them in the IV. They start pushing the bed out of pre op. Sister squeezes my hand and husband gives me a kiss. I totally freak-again. Am I doing the right thing? Did I think this through? Someone is going to be CUTTING ME! This all passes though my head in about 5 seconds. Deep breath. The drugs must be kicking in. I don't care any more. Im just enjoying the view. Rolled into the surgery suite, asked to slide to other table, centered myself and told them I was "equadistance from both sides of the table". Ha ha. Next thing Im waking up in recovery. Im asked if Im in pain, rate it 1-10, I said 3 or 4. nurse said you mean more like 7 right? Nope , then I remember about how if you say you're nauseated they give you something that has a side effect of making you really sleepy and Im thinking sleepy would be really good now. So I say Im nauseous. In go the drugs out goes Amanda. I woke up about 2 hours later with the nurse saying that I needed to be moved to the bed I would be in overnight. HA? Bed? You mean moved to room, right. Nope. No room at the hospital, Im going to be staying at the back end of the recovery with 3 other Lap banders. Great. So they tell my family to leave and get me out of bed. Here is where I found out about the velcro on the gown. noone redid it after putting it back on after surgery and as I go to sit up I flashed the recovery room and my fellow patients all my new incisions and my boobs. Great. I get wrapped up, moved, pit stop at the john where I have to pee in a container they called the hat and connected to monitors and compression bootys. So starts my first overnight stay in the hospital. I could keep going about all that happened. The bed didn't work, the compression booties stopped working about midnight, pain shot (that I took only to get some sleep) gave me a headache, I used the sore throat spray on the scrape the Anesthesiologist made on the top of my mouth, ate alot of ice, tried to sleep, 3am ripped out of sleep by the fire alarm clanger next to my bed, the people running through the fire door also next to me,(the false alarm was never explained but since my hospital was in the fire district my husband volunteers in I knew I was in good hands), 8pm 12am,5am 8am temp and blood pressure, 2 more Lovenox shots(ouch), multiple trips to the john (about 500cc each for those that were counting) 8am trip to radiology for the barium and x ray. They messed up the first picture and had to do a total of three which meant that I drank 16oz of barium. Then Im sent home with instructions to drink 1 ounce every hour. (I asked about the 16 0z of barium, no one had an answer or comment) a pain scrip (later at the pharmacy I found out it was one that Im allergic to) and the instructions printed out from the nutritionist for my meals for the next 5 weeks. I dont think I want to go to the hospital again. At home all things are better. Heating pad for the shoulder, liquid Tylenol(good stuff!) for pain, lots of juice and broth with unjury added. Im a happy camper now. Very minimal discomfort. I don't think I will ever stop passing barium. (ya-TMI) Before surgery I drew a smiley face (my signature as I have one as a tattoo somewhere) and a green shamrock on my belly for the Dr to find. It was the first thing he mentioned to my family after surgery. Said everyone got a good laugh and he put the port right under the shamrock. Im thinking of getting a shamrock tattoo there later. So I guess Im really committed to this shrinking shamrock thing. TTFN

I had surgery on 3/4 at 10am. Great time cause I got to sleep in a bit. Arrived at the hospital with my sister and husband and was directed to the surgical waiting area. They called my name, I was taken to pre op and given a gown , slippers and a hat, pointed to a tiny restroom. I changed, put my clothes in the bag with my name on it and came out into the pre op area with the beds separated by curtians. I was weighted (255) and assigned a bed. Note on the gown- nice and big made of soft paper and had velcro at the shoulders for-I found out later- ease of removal in surgery. The nurse asked me a million questions-allergies, what I was there for, name, is the ID band correct, medication Im taking. She started the IV, gave me a shot of Lovenox(hurt,stings) and my family was brought in. Anesthesiologist came looked at chart and left. Sidebar- I contacted the complementary medicine department at the hospital about relaxation therapy before surgery and was told to purchase a cd in the gift shop and listen to it before surgery. Than this lady, Irene would come up to pre op to help me with the stress of the surgery. Ok Im game. I buy& listen. In comes Irene all cheery, did I listen to the cd? yes. Am I still nervous? yes. How about listening to the cd again? screw the cd, I need more then the cd. She rubs my forehead and ears kind of like a massage, but not. She has stinky perfume. Ok I smiled said she could stop. Now she just hovered next to the bed talking about grace and mercy. I tuned her out. My Dr comes in & starts talking about the procedure and how everything will be fine. OK here it comes- I say It will be fine as long as I don't have a catheter. Dr says well thats not how they do it here. Wait for it..... Amanda FREAKS!!!!! I banged both hands on the rails of the bed and started in on how I was the patient and what I said goes. I gotta give the Dr credit he didn't freak (Irene jumped and disappeared) He just continued talking like I never popped a fuse and said maybe I wasn't ready for the band. My sister gives me the look and said I needed to explain why I wasn't going to have the cath. Now Im a little embarrassed about popping off and pissed that the cath has anything to do with getting banded. Staring off into the ceiling I explain why- infection, pain, and (the kicker) if no cath I will get up and walk more in recovery as with the cath I will remain glued to the bed. I will be a happier more willing patient. The Dr stops, blinks, says OK, and walks away. I am so pleased with myself. The Anesthesia nurse comes in with the good drugs, asks me who I am then pumps them in the IV. They start pushing the bed out of pre op. Sister squeezes my hand and husband gives me a kiss. I totally freak-again. Am I doing the right thing? Did I think this through? Someone is going to be CUTTING ME! This all passes though my head in about 5 seconds. Deep breath. The drugs must be kicking in. I don't care any more. Im just enjoying the view. Rolled into the surgery suite, asked to slide to other table, centered myself and told them I was "equadistance from both sides of the table". Ha ha. Next thing Im waking up in recovery. Im asked if Im in pain, rate it 1-10, I said 3 or 4. nurse said you mean more like 7 right? Nope , then I remember about how if you say you're nauseated they give you something that has a side effect of making you really sleepy and Im thinking sleepy would be really good now. So I say Im nauseous. In go the drugs out goes Amanda. I woke up about 2 hours later with the nurse saying that I needed to be moved to the bed I would be in overnight. HA? Bed? You mean moved to room, right. Nope. No room at the hospital, Im going to be staying at the back end of the recovery with 3 other Lap banders. Great. So they tell my family to leave and get me out of bed. Here is where I found out about the velcro on the gown. noone redid it after putting it back on after surgery and as I go to sit up I flashed the recovery room and my fellow patients all my new incisions and my boobs. Great. I get wrapped up, moved, pit stop at the john where I have to pee in a container they called the hat and connected to monitors and compression bootys. So starts my first overnight stay in the hospital. I could keep going about all that happened. The bed didn't work, the compression booties stopped working about midnight, pain shot (that I took only to get some sleep) gave me a headache, I used the sore throat spray on the scrape the Anesthesiologist made on the top of my mouth, ate alot of ice, tried to sleep, 3am ripped out of sleep by the fire alarm clanger next to my bed, the people running through the fire door also next to me,(the false alarm was never explained but since my hospital was in the fire district my husband volunteers in I knew I was in good hands), 8pm 12am,5am 8am temp and blood pressure, 2 more Lovenox shots(ouch), multiple trips to the john (about 500cc each for those that were counting) 8am trip to radiology for the barium and x ray. They messed up the first picture and had to do a total of three which meant that I drank 16oz of barium. Then Im sent home with instructions to drink 1 ounce every hour. (I asked about the 16 0z of barium, no one had an answer or comment) a pain scrip (later at the pharmacy I found out it was one that Im allergic to) and the instructions printed out from the nutritionist for my meals for the next 5 weeks. I dont think I want to go to the hospital again. At home all things are better. Heating pad for the shoulder, liquid Tylenol(good stuff!) for pain, lots of juice and broth with unjury added. Im a happy camper now. Very minimal discomfort. I don't think I will ever stop passing barium. (ya-TMI) Before surgery I drew a smiley face (my signature as I have one as a tattoo somewhere) and a green shamrock on my belly for the Dr to find. It was the first thing he mentioned to my family after surgery. Said everyone got a good laugh and he put the port right under the shamrock. Im thinking of getting a shamrock tattoo there later. So I guess Im really committed to this shrinking shamrock thing. TTFN

I dont think I want to go to the hospital again. At home all things are better. Heating pad for the shoulder, liquid Tylenol(good stuff!) for pain, lots of juice and broth with unjury added. Im a happy camper now. Very minimal discomfort. I don't think I will ever stop passing barium. (ya-TMI) Im off to take a shower. Yes Fenton showers are wonderful!!!!! You can't have too many. Hugs to all.

Hello all. Just checking in. I have been in the hospital since early yesterday morning. Nothing real serious.a viral thing. I was dehydrated and things coming out both ends. SORRY FOR THE TMI!!!! I am really tired and still really weak. Doc only let me come home because I have have none of the above for the past 8 hours and I begged him to come home promising to rest. Sure rested alot. Came home and deep cleaned my house because I have to get the 'sick germs' out. LOL But seriously NOW I am going to rest because I feel wiped out. I am still in for Mall Of America whenever it works for everyone else. Let me know. Miss you all. Phyl so great to see that you are posting!!!!! TTYAL

Thank you! One thing I realized last night was to take the pain meds (liquid Loritab) right on time. Don't be brave like I tried to be. Ouch! I also have Gas-x strips at someone's recommendation here and those work for stomach gas. Finally, not to give TMI (too much info), but wow the bowel activity last night was something even though there is nothing in there. Sipping a Protein drink now in hopes it blocks things up a bit!

Oh gosh. So much to say and after the last post I'm feeling like I'm a big mouth. I'll try to keep it to half a page this time. I have a very iffy relationship with God. I spent much of my younger years thinking it was all a big lie, then my early 20's trying to figure it out, my late twenties trying to fit Him into being a single mom of an ADHD child, and a few years ago almost a FULL YEAR so angry with Him for taking my father from me. Now I'm beginning to learn to trust again but it is still very hard. I'm still learning to give it up to Him. Now...off that subject. Onto my TMI....Thank you so much Indio for the wonderful posts. I have been ruminating over all that you said. I've got a lot to think about. You said a lot and were dead on in many ways. A few points...bulimic?? I don't know. I don't know enough about the disease/disorder but from my understanding and what I was doing before....I don't think so, think cow and cud not up and chuck. There is a difference and I hope you can, and can't, understand that. Now, maybe because I am eliminating it from my system...but not because I'm worried about calories but because it hurts to sit where it is. So I don't know but I will ask my dr. about it Monday. And yes, I promise to talk to my dr. on Monday. I actually talked DH out of going with me so that he wouldn't be concerned when I'm in the office for 30 minutes or more instead of 5. I will have 3 hours to think while driving there and 3 hours to think driving back. Tonight I came home and made beef stew for family.The only horrible thing I put in was 1/4 cup of flour in the whole pot. Everything else was extremely healthy. I did not walk tonight but so far have spent a very productive and thoughtful night. I am thinking about tomorrow and have a good plan in place. I will wake up with yogurt for a change and maybe not need the junk when we have coffee in the morning. I have good stuff planned for lunch. 13 year old is going to make chx and pasta for dinner and I'm going to make a nice big salad for that. So far tonight my only "snack" food had been my v8 fusion. I guess I didn't do too good with keeping this short, but thank you all for your kind words. I did manage not to cry in front of anyone....but had they walked in at the right time I was a blubbering idiot. Love to you all! I appreciate it all.

Just went back and peaked at the last few days worth of stuff. I really didn't think I was so far behind! I have a couple of things.... Indio! I'm in my 30's and after 2 days with my little ones I'm PRAYING for Monday. It had nothing to do with your age, and everything to do with kids these days. When I was a kid it was "get outside and play". Now it's "what should we do together?" I'm glad for your sake that you didn't have to watch them. Don't feel like they would have beaten you though because I think you are tougher than you think or let on! As for getting strong....go for it. The PE teacher here told me an at home exercise to do in the kitchen....soup cans start with them touching at waist level (thumbs out) and raise them shoulder high and shoulder wide and then back down to waist middle. Had no idea soup cans were so freaking heavy!!!! Do as many as you can, rest 3 minutes and repeat 3-5 times. As for the secret bandster, right now I'm feeling like a rotten bandster and don't think I will deserve squat come July! I keep up all the stuff I'm about to confess and I'll be back up to 220 before Easter gets here! Okay....now for the confessions. I'm having horrible food everything. Cravings, choices, chewing,...the list just goes on and on. My intentions are even bad. They say confession is good for the soul so I'm here to beg forgiveness. I know I have done wrong...I know what is right...I just SUCK AT THIS!!!! I've been eating anything and everything the last few days. It started Sunday for dinner I had family over and made a pot roast....and potatoes and gravy....and biscuits....and SIL made cheesecake....You see where this is going right? Well, I ate the potatoes and a biscuit and a small piece of cheesecake. Thank goodness my dear sweet 1 year old was birding me the whole time so I really only had 3 small bites of cheesecake....but the choices I made!!!!! Good lord I'm a glutton. Since then I've been eating/snitching some candy...and I went to the store on Monday to get a Ben and Jerry fix! I ate about 1/3 of the container and yesterday ate another third. I've been drinking ZERO water. I've not been walking for days. And honestly I feel silly telling you all of this because it makes me sound like I plan on stopping....and with this "I don't give a #$^$ attitude I can see me eating the last 3rd tonight while I sit on the couch doing jack. So maybe confession doesn't do jack for my soul. I don't know. I DO KNOW that I've got a really crappy attitude. Okay...so here is what I think could be maybe going on. But there is a huge TMI alert surrounding this next bunch of stuff. I really insist that if you are at all squeamish you want to not read this. In fact if I could put a screen on it that the curious could then remove I would....but I don't know who all to ask about this and I feel more comfortable with you all than anyone else. But please....stop now and don't read any further if in doubt!!!! okay...so when I was thinking about getting banded it was because I didn't believe I had something in my body that told me what FULL felt like. I would eat and eat and when I was tired of eating or thought that I had had enough I quit...and then in about a half hour I would go back and eat again. The only way I knew it was beyond time to stop was because I would "cud up". I don't know how else to put it. I wouldn't burp...I wouldn't throw up....it was just this involuntary esophogus action and something would come back with it. Now most times that would make me stop, but not always. And as sick as that sounds, it could happen 10 or 15 times before, I guess, it was digested enough to fit into my stomach. I'm so sorry. I know that is gross. I haven't even ever discussed it with my dr. or DH it's so gross. Anyways. When I get stuckish....I don't call it stuck because from what everyone else says, that's painful...the same thing happens. Honestly it is no more difficult to "cud" than to swallow, it just takes thinking about it. And it happens a lot. I don't chew, I feel that pressure, and to relieve it I expel. Okay...and then as horrible as it sounds, I then go eat some more. So....I've been getting rid of most of the good food....and in my head, since I haven't consumed hardly ANY calories....that means I can eat the junk....and since I'm not consuming the calories, why should I work out. I know!!! I know!!! I'm horrible and being beyond out of line! But now I feel like I'm in a hole that I can't dig myself out of! I think this is something only I can get ahold of....but I feel like such a failure that I'm climbing the walls depressed about it. Okay....TMI alert has expired. Back to stomach friendly discussion!!! I have a fill scheduled for Monday and I know I have some tough stuff to discuss with dr. I really don't think my condition has anything to do with being too tight, but more about being too lazy to chew correctly and too greedy to make good food choices. I did have some pork chop casserole the other night and when I cut my pork chop into small bites and chewed well, I ate about 3 oz of meat and was completely full and comfortable. I know it is possible. Just not what I'm doing. So I don't know what to tell my dr. about the questions they ask. Am I hungry....yeah, because I'm doing horrible things. Am I nauseous....no, but eliminating anyways. Do I need a fill? I need a lobotomy is more like it! I wasn't even going to go for my appt, but have decided that I really need to discuss everything with this woman....problem....I am embarrassed to even discuss it. So....I think it was MsPris that asked about depression. Right now, I'm about as low as I was right before my last pregnancy, and honestly not sure what I should do about it. I thought this was going to help my depression....not make it worse, and yet again, here I am feeling like I failed at another diet. Bad thing is, this one cost me over $13k to fail. Okay...before I lose it in front of my students, I had better go. Good thing my desk is behind them and they can't see me, only I can see them and keep them on task. Night guys.

Good morning violets- Hump day! (wish I were typing TGIF instead) Jenn,Suzie & Kat-I sure hope you feel better soon. ***The next paragraph is not for the squemish (sp)*** Believe it or not I have to call my ob/gun again today because the boil (or whatever it is) from about a month ago still has not gone away....even after he ripped it open last time. It looked like it was getting better then BAM, it came back and I have not been able to drain it good enough I guess. Maybe an ingrown hair? I am in such gruelling pain. The thought of letting him rip it open again is more than I can take. I am next to tears but I know that is the only way it will get better. Oh well, the bright side is at least it is getting documented and maybe it will help insurance cover my TT. Please think of me today friends....I am not looking forward to this dr visit at all. It hurts SO bad. Sorry if that was TMI but I am scared to death and had to share with my sistas. Try to have a great day violets!!

Don't worry about the TMI - I think we've all had that fear at one time or another. Let me tell you about a product that I've used when I've had a similar problem. It's called Kondremul Lubricant Laxative. It's a liquid and doesn't taste too horrible. I bought mine from CVS (Link here: CVS Online Pharmacy Store ) It's gentle on your tummy and it also softens the stool. Just thought I'd throw that out there for ya. :drool: I ordered mine from the website but I would love it if they could be ordered locally!