TerriDoodle

The grape flavor is disgusting. I find the berry flavor to be much more tolerable. I'm beginning to really hate liquid medications....reminds me too much of my childhood and all those earaches and sore throats and endless tablespoons of some gooey yellow sulphur-tasting medication. Some kind of bactrim, I suppose. OMG. YUCK. I can still taste it.

TracyKS - didn't you say ice cream was good for a swollen stoma?? I think I need some.

I would say that whether you can afford it or not, you need to find a way to see your doctor. Are you getting fluids down?

I just saw this........You DOG! Yep, I was there on Wednesday from about 11:30-12:45ish? I can't believe you didn't say hello!!! Did you see me talking to 2 women?...or later when I came out? The waiting room was crowded when I left! We oughta wear some kind of "LBT" patch or something when we go in there for a fill!! I would have loved to meet you! Looks like I'll be going back very soon...I"m very tight and will probably have to go for a little unfill. The good news is that I'm rarely very hungry!

....and I'm filled with it. I just got my 4th fill and the omnipaque is holding perfectly! I lost .5cc of saline between my 1st and 2nd fill.

Well, the fills are really nothing to worry about. They usually go quite smoothly, so there's not reason to worry that yours will be any different! And the gas pain is manageable and temporary! Don't worry! Be happy!!

Oh, it's been a loooooooooooong few days with this new fill of mine. I PB'd all weekend...I don't know how many times...I think 3 or 4 and one of them was BAD. Of course it was while we were sitting in a wonderful restaurant with my sister- and mother-in-law. I had 2 bites of scrambled eggs, a bite of canteloupe and a tiny bite of sausage. I had to leave the table THREE times. As I sit here now I am totally stuck on one bite of cottage cheese! I am determined to ride this out until Friday or Monday. I will not hesitate to go for an unfill if it's not better by then. I don't have any problems with water or protein shakes... only food of just about any kind. What a difference between TracyKS and I, eh? Josie - How's your restriction these days?? Kat - Your garden is making my mouth water!! I'd kill for some squash...if I could only eat it!! Pamela - How's your state of mind these days?? You sound a bit subdued. (((Love you!))) Laura, MsJen, TracyK, Haydee -- HI!! :wave: Ya'll have a good day!

Denise -- My best friend has been going thru the same ordeal for the last 8 months or so. Loooong story short, it is the best thing she could have done -- NO doubt about it. He is sober now (after 90 days in jail!) and is going today for his physical to join the Navy. This is a brilliant young man who had the world by the tail until he started drinking as a senior in high school. He was a straight A student, never had to study, a computer genius and played 5 instruments...all by ear. Incredibly sad, eh? He's homeless now, been in jail twice, lost his car, job, and friends. All he has left now is the love of his family, but NOT their enabling ways. In hindsight, this is the only way that he had any chance at recovery. It has been the hardest year of my dear friends' life. She said if she had done anything differently it would have been to get into therapy and Al-Anon much sooner for her own mental health. There's no point in her taking all of you down with her. She's an adult (maybe not a mature one) and she has made her choice. Time to grow up. You are certainly in my thoughts and prayers. I am proud of your courage. (AND you look so wonderful in your pics!!! You are such a beautiful woman!) Xoxo

Sorry, Zannie. Wish things were so different! Having been there, done that I would imagine that he will not fully realize the damage he is doing to himself until you and the kids are long gone....when it is much too late. You sound like a very intelligent woman and I am glad you are getting some professional advice as well. Please continue to take care of yourself....you're doing great.

Laura - 1st things 1st -- WOW!! I can really tell a difference!! Especially across your shoulder blade area and your arms! Hey! Where's your butt?? I am losing my "enthusiasm" too Josie. As a matter of fact I took off this whole week! My attitude was just really sucking because of my Quit and I just didn't care!! Then I thought that maybe it would not be such a bad idea to purposely take a week off every 2-3 months....like a vacation. When you go up to NY what will you do for exercise anyway? Maybe you can take some time off then. I'll make sure you get back on track!! Uh, did we decide what day we're meeting for lunch? Any day but Monday for me. I'm glad ya'll like your bracelets! You're so very welcome! I think DH believes I'm delusional or something...the way I talk about you guys like you're "real" and I consider you my "friends"! Men. You can't really expect them to understand. Yep!! Well, this weekend DH and I are at Lake Conroe in a huge golf/boating neighborhood where we'd like to move in a couple of years. They have little townhomes that you can rent and stay for the weekend...eat at the yacht club, go to the spa, workout in the gym, go swim, etc....get the feel of living here. It was probably a mistake because we've been here only a few hours and I'm already whining!!! The houses range from $175K to over $1.5 million (for example! Search Detail) and the neighborhoods are stunning. Uh, we're looking near the bottom of that price range, BTW!! DH lives for golf and he's worked really hard his whole life. He deserves this. (sounds good eh? :heh:) He's playiing golf and I'm going for a workout and a facial tomorrow. That'll be nice. I love facials!! If you've never had one....go immediately and get one. OMG!! They're better than getting a massage in my book. Restriction is better! I've been very strictly eating mushies and liquid.

Zannie -- ?? How are you doing, sweetie??

Yeah, a bowel getting nicked is something that could just as easily happen here as in Mexico....that's just one of the risks of this surgery. I suppose the bowel leakage thing is hard to detect?? Seems like the girl would have been running a high fever..but maybe that comes later. What a shame!!! On a GOOD note....the scale finally moved for me today after a day and a half of liquids! 188.2...and on my official weigh in day, too This Chantix I'm taking is giving me wierd, vivid dreams. I'm up again early today even though I have the day off just because the dream was making me mad and would not stop!!! I was so mad in the dream that I had a cigarette! LOL Glas it was just a dream. But I did wake up wanting one in the worst way! Glad you girls like your bracelets. It was fun making them. They're all different so I don't know who got what ('cause I can't remember now). If they break or are too small or too big, send it back and I can fix that real easy. The rest of you should be getting yours today or tomorrow...they were all sent on Tuesday. Kat - are you feeling better today? I have this REAL thing about noise!! I just can't stand it. I hate the TV (generally) for that same reason. Wouldn't y'know that my DH is an addict. Hope you have a good day today. Tracy - I'm still laughing about the nuns! Thanks for that. Too funny. Josie - How was your BBQ and the visit with the kids?? SchexyMomma - How are you doing??? Time for you to check in, eh? I'm gonna stay on liquids today...maybe very soft mushies...but nothing more! I'm gonna baby this thing for 2 weeks.

That is just way sick. I recommend therapy....this is serious!

I went for my 4th fill yesterday and when the nurse was evaluating whether or not to give me a fill, she asked me if I could eat more than 1/2 of a Lean Cuisine. When i said yes, she said I could have a fill! That sounds like about 4 oz. Does that help?

YOU are my new best friend!!!

When I saw the title of this post, I thought it was some kind of JOKE! I was self-pay too and I think this is the best $13,000 i ever spent! I'd drive an old jaloppy for 5 years if I had to...I'd never give up my band! (And I've had lots of PB's! It's not that big of a deal!) Best of luck to you and here's some words of wisdom: Stay away from the Complications board!!!

"How much you can eat" varies according to the amount of restriction you have. When I'm most restricted I eat about 1/4 cup of food; when I'm least restricted (after my 1st fill) I could eat up to 2 cups of something like salad with a little chicken. Sorry, it's just hard to answer your question.

Oh, that's cool! What doctor did that? An obesity specialist or what? I'd be real curious to see what mine is. When I started tracking my calories and still eating some of my faves (before banding, I guess) I found out that my 2 favorite salads that I habitually ate each had 900 calories!!! :faint: So, no, Steak and Shake is definitely not alone! It's crazy. ...and I think Texas beats Alabama. I know Houston is in the top 5 or 10 cities. Ugh. Gotta love that southern cooking! (and I DO!)

I wear black crop leggings and a baggy T-shirt. I take OFF my makeup 'cause nothing is worse than sweat AND mascara in your eyes. You can imagine what a beautiful sight I am when I'm leaving that place...but, by then, I'm so tired (but feel GREAT) I don't give a hoot. Man, I would LOVE to hear "You're looking GREAT" from a complete stranger at the gym. That would totally make my week! :biggrin1:

Oh, Tracy.... I also meant to say (but I was too busy ranting) that I agree with Michelle. Small ceremony now, family there, and big party in March. No secrets.

I got filled to 2.8 yesterday and I kinda made a face at the nurse when she said that. She said, "Oh, you've got PLENTY of room. We just keep filling you up and then when we hit 4 we ask Dr. Spivak for his opinion on doing more." So I guess it's still a possibility...but by the time you get that high, you probably won't need more. BTW, I am doing ok. I ate 1/4c then started sliming. So....I guess 1/4c of food is my max for now! Which is good! I'm not hungry. C'mon scale!!! Now you see the real value in tracking calories! Those damn restaurants are killing us with the calories!! It's an eye-opening journey, eh girls? [RANT ON] And remember....your calorie requirements go down as your weight goes down...so it has to be recalculated often. Besides, if that calorie deficit thing was for real, I'd be losing 1/2# a day. People like me that just have a ridiculously slow metabolism can just throw the book away on that "rule"! Supposedly I can "maintain" on 2500 cals a day...but I'm "maintaining" on 1500 calories a day (NOT including exercise). So, essentially, that means to lose 2# a week I'd have to eat no more than about 500-600 cals a day. NOT! [RANT OFF]

I'm sliming on cottage cheese.

I love nun stories and nun jokes. Nuns just give me the creeps...always have always will I spent 10 years in catholic private schools -- 'nuf said. BTW -- It is taking me a full hour to eat 1/2 cup of cottage cheese! At this rate I'll be eating all day long to get my meals & protein in.

Sorry, Tracy....but I am rolling on the floor laughing mao!!!!!!!!

Hey! I do that too!!! Congrats, Alex, on being re-banded. I hope you're doing well!