sophrosyne

Gastro-Ephageal Reflux Disorder. In other words, really bad heartburn. If left untreated, it can lead to Barrett's, which means the lining of your esophagus has mutated and into stomach cell lining to deal with the acid. It can also lead to esophageal or stomach cancer. Another side effect is GERD-induced asthma. The acid from your stomach actually travels into your lungs and scars the brachial tubes. You can wake up coughing, throwing up, or feeling like you're drowning. Not pleasant. It completely went away for a year after I had my baby, but now it's back. Although I have no idea why.

A son, Judah? That's interesting. I had heard it was a daughter, Sara, by Mary Magdalene. Although there are people who say that Jesus was as much a mythical composite as Odin or Herne. A fictional character used to illuminate an initiate journey into the esoteric mysteries. So I'm looking forward to seeing it. Even though I find most of the bible-centered shows to take things way too literally. Through the "literal truth", the mysteries are lost. IMO.

It's good to hear that relationships can survive. I worry, because sometimes I catch myself thinking things like "after I lose weight, he'll have to be nice to me" and I wonder what'll happen if he isn't! LOL! I had a friend who had the bypass, and she lost a LOT of weight. She also started an affair with a married man and left her husband. So, it got me wondering...

Hail and well-met! LOL. It's hard to describe my tradition. It's primarily Welsh/Celtic, but we also study Sumerian, Greek, Egyptian, Christian, etc. We're mainly interested in enlightenment and liberation of the spirit.

He sounds like a jackass. IMO. When my husband took me off his insurance coverage, he had to prove to them that I was covered by another insurance plan before they would remove me. Generally, they only let you remove spouses if: 1) you dissolve the marriage or 2) if the spouse gets other insurance or 3) without reason, if it's during the normal enrollment period. 4) he loses his job or takes a leave of absence and stops making payments. If there's a way to get your own insurance to cover it instead, I would do that. I would also suggest YOU go to counseling. Regardless of his problems, there's a reason why you're in this marriage, why you let him treat you the way he does and why you're overweight. Work on you and your problems, and the rest will fall into place. And you might get some tips on handling Mr. Sensitive over there. Now, I'm not a psychologist or anything, but here's my layman tips for the day: 1) Ignore him when he's a jackass. Attention - both positive and negative - reinforce behavior patterns. If he mutters something nasty about you, don't react to it. Things will only escalate. Ignore it as if he never said it. 2) React to him as if he's already the person you want him to be. Treat him in a positive way, as if he's being a real human, and trust that he'll rise to meet your expectations. If you expect him to be an asshole, he will be. If you expect him to be human, and treat him as if he's human, he'll feel totally guilty when he's a jackass, all on his own. And he'll slowly stop being a jackass. 3) Give him praise when he does the least little thing. Don't criticize or nag. Just tell him what a good boy he is and leave it at that. If he did the washing and destroyed your clothes, at least he DID the washing. Hopefully, by the time your surgery is done and your weight is off, your marriage will be much better. If it isn't, you can always leave. Right now, it seems like he's checked out of the marriage as it is. So I would just try to keep the conflicts to a minimum, while you get all your ducks in a row and take care of yourself, and decide what you want to do. Of course, I should talk. My husband has his jackass moments too, and I'm still trying to figure out how to deal with them.

If you have an HMO, you will need to get a recommendation from your PCP before your insurance will even think about covering the surgery. Changing PCPs is no big deal. There are some who are very WLS supportive.

Acid Reflux can make you not be able to eat and have shortness of breath. Acid can scar up your esophagus, making it difficult to swallow/eat. It can also back up into your lungs and cause GERD-related asthma. Which is why it's important to treat acid reflux. If you're having a lot of acid reflux, tell your doctor. In addition to treating the GERD, I also had to go to a pulmonologist and get two different asthma inhalers, before my lungs cleared up. Still, whenever I get sick, it hits me right in the lungs, and I'm back on the inhalers. Since you can't breathe, and you're having chest and stomach pains, it sounds like it's more than just GERD. It could be GERD combined with an allergic reaction (what you're describing happened to me when I was on clindamycin), or an excess of gas, but you should definitely see a doctor.

I got approved for my first consult! But when I'm in front of a doctor, I always forget the questions I want to ask, or even the problems I'm having that prompted the appt to begin with! So I was thinking about making a list. What questions should I ask? (Is there a pre-op question list already created?). Also, what about fills? My insurance will cover the surgery, do they usually cover the fills as well? I hate surgery and being put under, so I'm a bit nervous. But I'm hoping that since I'm hungry all-the-time (especially when I'm dieting!) that the band will work to convince me I'm really not that hungry. Although, I'm a bit nervous - I have trouble swallowing now. Especially meat. If I can't swallow now, what's going to happen post band? Soph

I hate all artificial sweeteners. I stopped using them entirely when I was pregnant, and after I had the baby, I was amazed at how chemically they all tasted - including Splenda. I'm a big proponent of drinking Vitamin Water, or water flavored with a slice of lemon or lime. Sodas are nothing but corn syrup or chemicals. And if I really want coffee or tea, I use real sugar and limit my intake. It's AMAZING how many things are made from high fructose corn syrup. It should be illegal. Not only that, but it's amazing how many labels out-and-out LIE. I've picked up items that are labeled NO TRANS FATS, but when you look at the ingredients, you see Partially Hydrogenated Oils, which is what create trans fats! Another thing that's worrying me lately is what's in these Protein drinks? I've been drinking them and they invariably give me the runs. And they change the taste in my mouth, so that it's sweeter - like my tongue's been coated in Splenda. Really, the FDA needs to crack-down on labeling. Everything's just getting mislabeled, so people believe that they're eating healthier, when really, everything's just as bad for you as it always used to be - the manufacturers are just trying to create a sleight of hand to boost sales! PS: From what I can see, artificial sweeteners create their own little addictions. I really don't think any of them are that healthy!

Love Janet Evanovich. Also Katie MacAllistair's Aislean Grey series. And anything by Sara Gruen, Tony Hillerman, Dick Francis, Jennifer Cruisie. Oddly enough, I first read Janet Evanovich when I had to evaluate it as a movie prospect for my boss. I fell in love with the series. That was years ago. I can't believe it hasn't been made yet.

Every time I try to diet, (I'm pre-op), I swear, I panic. I start eating more than I do when I'm not trying to diet - as if this might be the last time I eat that particular food. I feel like I'm starving, all the time. Anyone else feel that way? And I know it *has* to be psychological. So, I decided to try a pre-op type of diet before I make my mind up about the lap-band. (Okay, so I'm a wuss). But I figure I need to do it anyway, and if I can stay on it for any length of time, the weight loss will be a bonus. And what I would up doing was eating most of what I normally eat, but adding Protein shakes (and more calories) into the mix. (I tried to substitue a shake for a meal, and I'd feel fine - for an hour - and then I'd get so incredibly hungry). How can I stop being so hungry? After my c-section, my stomach was swollen so much, I didn't want to eat, and it took months to be able to keep food down anyway. If it wasn't for the need to consume calories to make milk, I would have probably lost a lot more weight during that period, instead of forcing myself to consume liquid calories until I could get my stomach to eat semi-normally again. But now that I can eat again, I feel like I'm starving all the time - especially if I'm dieting. How can I stop that feeling? I just bought some Dexatrim "natural" - green tea and caffeine. It only works for a few hours though. Maybe I need to increase my dosage? At this rate, I have no idea how I'm going to do the pre-op diet. So, now I'm trying just to reduce my intake first, before substituting the shakes for food. But today, between 6am and 12pm, I've had a South Beach bar, a few sips of a soda, an apple, an orange and a lunchable. And I still feel hungry. What tricks/tips do you have for making the hunger thing go away while you're doing pre-op dieting? At this rate, my liver's never gonna get small enough.

Ugh. I'm pre-band, and when I told my husband I was thinking about the band, he told me I was taking the easy way out. So today, I told him I was dieting, and he went out and bought me a mint chocolate chip milkshake. I'm not sure what's going to happen to our relationship post-band. I'm hoping he stops being so rude. If I ask him a question, I get snarky comebacks as a response. That don't actually answer the question or do anything but point out how clever he is. Why do guys do that? Make bad puns, substitute snarky one-liners for actual answers? And more importantly, what can I do to discourage that? I'm really tired of how rude things have gotten around the house. And let's not even get into the faces and attitudes. And I find myself snapping back at him and getting rude back, just because I'm so frustrated. I'm hoping that when I lose the weight, he'll get worried enough about losing me, that he'll stop being so freaking rude. Because if this continues, I don't know what I'm going to do. I won't leave him, because I wouldn't do that to our baby. She adores her daddy. I just want him to go back to being the sweet guy I used to know.

The smell of smokers on the elevator, coming back from smoking break. The smell of smokers mixed with BO on the elevator. People who come to work sick (and contagious) because they don't want to use their time off as sick days. People who spray you with perfume. Walking past the perfume counters in some of the more fragrant stores. People who drive like asses on the freeway. No matter what lane they're in. People who don't cover their mouth when they sneeze or cough. Smokers who can't wait until they get to the smoking area to light up. People who can't figure out how to use only one parking space in the lot. That everything is so friggin' expensive nowadays, but over the last 7 years, my take-home pay has been cut almost in half. Companies that force you to quit, because they don't want to pay unemployment. Outsourcing. The rising cost of medical care, thanks to insurance companies. That when I sit down, my boobs rest against my stomach roll.

I had to give up carbonation because of a hiatal hernia. For years. So, I would just let the soda go flat and then drink it.

I think outsourcing is crap. I HATE dealing with customer service and tech people who have a hard time understanding what I'm saying. Or whose accents are so thick, I can't understand a word they're saying. Or who are so young (in both years and experience) they sound like they're barely out of school and have no idea what they're doing. If I wanted someone to read from the manual to me, I could do it myself. Obviously, I'm calling because the manual couldn't fix it. If you can't help me, refer me to your supervisor. If your entire department is located in the third world, give me a phone number of someone I can call domestically. What's really scary is the outsourcing of surgery. Especially when they're outsourcing to a third world hospital, because transplants are cheaper there. Outsourcing is turning me into a cantankerous old fart.

I'm looking forward to... 1) Riding horses again 2) Getting riding boots over my enormous calves 3) Ride amusement park rides with my daughter 4) Looking good in a riding outfit 5) Regaining flexibility 6) Not injuring myself so easily 7) Actually enjoying physical exertion (I think this is a myth) 8) Being attractive / joining the "hottie" club 9) Actually wanting to move and do things (see #7) 10) My mother's reaction to the new me.

WOO-HOO!!!!!!! Pictures!!!!! :dance::rockon::first::banana:cheer2:

Stomach crunches. That torturous thing where you lie on your back and hold your legs 6 inches off the ground, for as long as you can. If you like horses, take English riding lessons and spend as much time as you can, trotting. Both posting (and sitting - if done the right way), will work out your stomach muscles. In a fun way.

Vitamins, Iron, Protein. I totally agree. Very important. Especially when you're restricting calories / food intake. Even in non-banded life, there's a big difference in tiredness level when you take vitamins and when you don't.

Really, I gotta say, who wants to work out? It's boring and smelly. (IMO). Instead of pushing yourself to work out, find a physical activity that you enjoy. Horseback riding, dancing, walking, swimming, golf, tennis, whatever. And treat yourself to doing that. That way, you're looking forward to it, instead of cringing at the thought of another "workout" and then beating yourself up when you miss it. The reason you're eating, IMO, is because you're attempting to punish yourself with food. Odd, I know. But think about it... Punishment for not working out, punishment for staying at a job you hate, punishment for letting yourself down. But punishment in a comforting way - through the comfort of bad for you but tasty food. So, you need to break the cycle of punishment. Start rewarding yourself with fun activities that you normally might not splurge on. Go trail riding. Or put on the oldies and dance in the house. If you lose another 10 lbs, reward yourself with a spa day. Or a pedicure. Or a massage. Something wonderfully relaxing and decadent, and not food-related. Once you feel better about yourself, and you start naturally being more active, you'll get back on track.

Does the month affect the water temperature? For instance, out in CA, in May, the water's freezing. It's probably at its warmest in September, before it start cooling down again.

I'm starting to get better. Now, for Breakfast, I'm having a Protein shake and a Protein Bar. Then, for lunch, I'm getting whatever "meat" product is in the vending machine at work (sometimes it's a lunchable, sometimes it's a sausage biscuit) and Water. And dinner is meat and veggies. And if I get hungry before dinner, I'll grab a Protein Shake or a piece of cheese. And lots of water all day long. Not that I'm losing any weight at all. Sigh. But I should have my referral for the banding doc in 5-10 days.

Opti-Fast has bars and soup now? Wow. I did Opti-Fast for 6 months, years ago, back when it was only shakes and you could supplement it only with broth and sugar-free Jello. The weird thing was, my hair didn't grow at all while I was on it. But when I got off of it, it grew absurdly fast. I actually had to go get two haircuts, a week apart. I still have no idea what caused that. I gotta say, during that time, I used to have the most VIVID dreams about food. I'd wake up stuffed, because I was eating all night in my dreams. (And no, it wasn't my pillow!). Although, it makes me wonder if the lap-band will actually work for me. Opti-Fast for 6 months, combined with extensive exercise - the limited calories, once they were all burnt up - I would literally collapse and not be able to move unless I ate something. And all I lost was 25 lbs. My body was DETERMINED to hold onto every single pound. So I'm a little worried that since Opti-Fast and WLS both kinda work on a minimal intake principle, that the surgery just won't work on me. Has anyone experienced that? Having the surgery and only losing some absurdly small amount of weight?

My insurance will cover the entire surgery except for $250. And the doctor will take payments on that. As to all the special Protein drinks and everything... how much, generally, does that cost people? I figure we'll be saving on me not eating much food, but that's going to ultimately be a little bit of a problem. He does most of the dinner cooking and gets terribly hurt if someone doesn't eat what he's cooked. But I figure that's only really going to last while I'm on liquids. The baby's not a year yet and she's been teething like crazy lately. :phanvan But we love her to pieces anyway.

I don't think he's stepping out. I think a lot of it right now is due to lack of sleep and tight finances. He watches the baby while I work, and I come home early to watch the baby while he works. But she's not sleeping through the night yet. She's up at 11, 2, 5. And sleeping in three hour stretches is wearing my nerves a bit thin. And since he's up late working, he's getting cranky about having to get up so early, so I can get to work. And with the finances, even I'm wondering how I'm going to afford all those Protein drinks. One thing about "bad" food - it's cheap. I used to be in a physically abusive marriage and my parents had a verbally and emotionally abusive marriage - this isn't like either of those.