arnetta

pardon my tantrum....

<INHALE.> <EXHALE> I open my Facebook today (you know...aka high school) to this wonderful post from my sister in law (who was at one point my "best friend"): "WOO HOO I have lost 50 lbs!!!! Its such an amazing inspiration to be able to prove to myself that I can do it on my own without any weight loss surgery. " hmmm......then this was followed up with post from her friends saying things like: "You go girl! Weight loss surgery is for the weak" "Weight loss surgery is the easy way out" "you should be so proud of yourself for doing it the right way" COME THE FREAK ON! REALLY??????? I MEAN REALLY REALLY WITH THIS CRAP????????? My sister in law and I used to talk about this surgery all the time. When I told her I was getting it she seemed happy for me but not as happy as I had wanted her to be but understood. Afterall, It was something she wanted to. But she doesn't work......and has no insurance. Was I supposed to just not get it because she can't. I wouldn't have wanted her to do that at all. Then my favorite was when I didn't think I was going to get it because the hospital told me at the very last minute that I need $2k.......when I told her she ACTUALLY SOUNDED HAPPY! I am not joking. Anytime I see her she barely speaks to me......and then you go on Facebook and make this kind of comment? So I text her......I am so very proud of you for the weight you have lost! YOU should be proud of yourself. I mean after all you are doing it the right way and not taking the easy way out like me. She actually had the nerve to text me back and say...."don't be down on yourself for getting the surgery" ARE YOU KIDDING ME WITH THIS?????????? I'm DONE.....DON'T YOU DARE SAY YOU ARE DOING THIS THE RIGHT WAY AND I AM NOT.......EXSPECIALLY WHEN YOU ARE TAKING PHENTERMINE! I am truly happy she has found a way to help her loose weight......and I know that even with a tool like phentermine...it is STILL HARD WORK. DON'T YOU DARE JUDGE ME AND TAKE POT SHOTS AT ME. What is it I was told before.....the surgery could strain relationships and I could even loose some. RELATIONSHIP LOST - CHECK.

1st CONGRATS on the 10lbs! That is great news! I actually pulled a pair of pants off without undoing the button on them.....HEHEHEHE what fun that is! As far as my incision.....That is the one spot that hurt the most for me but doesn't hurt a bit now.....I am 2 weeks out today. Everytime I get out of a shower I put a little bit of rubbing alchol on it to dry it out. That is what my OBGYN had me do with my cut from both of my c-sections and hit helped a BUNCH! My didn't feel like it was goint to break open but did burn until I remembered the alchol trick. It was almost like it wasn't drying enough before. If it is really hurting it wouldn't hurt to just call your surgeon and run it by him just to double check.

I cook the same way....hehe Thanks...sounds yummy!

Thank you all for sharing and understanding!

I am so PROUD OF YOU AND SARAH BOTH! I can truly say ladies.....YOU CAN DO THIS! I smoked for 14 years and quit! I haven't had a smoke in almost 16 months IT FEELS SO MUCH BETTER.....and I am here to tell you I LOVED my smokes! Man but I gotta give it to you both.....that will be a heck of an accomplishment for you to do both! KEEP US POSTED!!! blog blog blog blog blog lol

Girl I am the same way. I don't feel a restriction. I am on my 3 week pureed food diet. But feel like I could eat whatever.....but I don't. And they are SO right about retaining water weight after surgery.....I put 7 lbs back on when I got on the scale from thehospital. I SAID CHICA CHICA...WHAT? lol Then the hubby reminded me and my 2 year old son promptly broke the scale for me. LOL So I haven't been able to weigh myself and I'm okay with that. ) I go to the Dr. tomorrow for my 2 week. Just like to see where I'm at. You are doing great though so don't push it. I met a guy that pushed everything and he is a classic case of everything that can go wrong with the lap band has with him....I think it's been his doing though. Anyway....keep pushing...Glad to hear that you are doing so well <cyber hugs>

Great job Michael! Thanks for sharing!

With my Dr. I have to be on PUREED for 3 WEEKS! Oiy' Chili has BEEN MY FAVORITE SO FAR! Love the idea of butternut squash soup! Please share the recipe! Thanks!

http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Lavish-Bliss/170693466345192 LOVE IT!!! Any keep your head up. 189 is NOT a bad number but keep pushing forward and you will be able to do it!

you can do this! I swear it does get easier! ) How many more days until you get pureed foods?

Great Job Sarah! Glad to here you are doing well. You made me laugh.....very true about the pre-opt diet. I had to do it for 2 weeks. and then found out right after surgery when 2 of us were talking to the doctor that if I would have called him he would have let me have one last meal before surgery. LOL I didn't mind.....thought then I might not have lost 20lbs before surgery and I kinda liked that number. lol GREAT JOB!

Okay when I'm done crying I will thank all of you for your wonderful support! and Heather trust me when I tell you the feeling is so mutual.....I never would have thought it to be possible to feel a bond with people you have never met like I have with you ladies! It's incredible. One day......maybe we should all find a central location and meet up! A nice thought!

So I am a little over a week post op and finally in a better frame of mind. I am ashamed to be admitting this but hope that maybe it will help someone else. Please no judgement. *DEEP SIGHS* How could I be 2nd guessing my choice....I mean I worked so hard to make this happen and have researched it for 8 years.......but I did. Right after surgery it all hit me like a ton of bricks ....not in the chest but right in the face. And all I kept asking myself is WHAT HAVE I DONE? This surgery that I kept telling myself was reversable was not as easily reversed as I had made myself believe. The minute I walked through my front door all I could think is "this is NOT what I want" and now it's to late!" And the only reason I could say that it wasn't what I wanted ,Swas because I couldn't quit thinking about all the food that I would never be able to eat again. And not getting to eat any food for a week and then knowing I was only going to be on pureed food for another 3 weeks just made it worse. I WANTED TO EAT......and I wanted to sit on the floor with all my favorite foods and .........CRY. I didn't understand this. I couldn't understand how I had become so attached to food and not even know it. A REALLY GOOD FRIEND of mine, Diane, (God Love her) had mention that sometimes we mourn the loss of food like it was a good friend.....and I read what she wrote but apparently didn't listen before hand because it came as a total shock to me. I mean how could I actually be mourning the fact that I might never get to eat a pizza again and even worse, my favorite, spaghetti. (this is where I want to put the LOL but it's not so funny. I am quite ashamed. I truly found myself crying and crying....I wouldn't admit it when my husband asked me what was wrong....but I honestly knew why I was crying even if I didn't understand it myself. This went on for almost a full week. But I am thankful to say I am in a much better frame of mind. The surgery itself, looking back, was really very easy. It's the emotions that I thought I had a handle on before surgery....and then feeling like I was loosing my mind....that has really been the hard part for me. But yesterday was a good day and today was better. I Sat down to dinner with my family finally tonight. I had a very small bowl of pureed chili and I didn't feel like I lost my best friend. I enjoyed our family time. Tomorrow I hope it's the same. THANK YOU DIANE FOR BEING HERE FOR ME EVEN WHEN I WASN'T.

Said a prayer for you and can't wait to hear from you! You will do fine!!

ONE DAY AT A TIME I think is smart! I think it will always be a struggle for us but we keep trying...... that has to eventually be the difference. I have been smoke free for over a year now. But I tried quiting atleast 8 times before it finally seems to have worked. But I always remind myself...that if I smoke just one that is all it would take for me to be a "smoker" again. So instead of setting this long term goal...I wake up and say....today I will be smoke free. Anyway...my point is just that I think you have the right mind set.....as with any addiction you have to take it ONE DAY AT A TIME in order to be successful. and be proud of yourself everyday....because for pete sake....I don't know one person that can't live without food...That my friend is an addiction like no other. WE CAN DO THIS!!!

Thanks so much ladies! I am feeling MUCH BETTER TODAY. The gas FINALLY started ..... coming out around 3am this morning. I walked circles yesterday and last night.....and did extra laps before I went to bed last night. I am getting hungry though.....and I am not big on sweets so all the sugars...or fake sugars are really getting old...lol...but I will do as I am told by the doctor. This is to important not to. What pain meds did your doctors give you? Mine only gave tylenol 3 and honestly.....seems to do NOTHING. Just curious.

THAT IS WONDERFUL NEWS!!! CONGRATS!!!!! So glad to hearr you are already doing so well. God is GOOD!

you will look and feel amazing! sounds more like you already do know that! congrats on your progress so far....inspiring.

MAN WAS SURGERY EASY......AS FAST AS 1,2,3...AND I WAS DONE.... But then I woke up... haha. I woke up crying and in so much pain.....don't let me forget to mention the worse dry mouth IN THE WORLD! I started burping from the minute I woke up. AFter 2 c-sections I really thought this would be cake for me.....I really shouldn't have. I did have a rough go of it right after. I thought I was prepared for the gas pain but I really wasn't. I keep walking and taking my gas-x but when I was trying to sleep there wasn't much way for me to get comfortable. I did attempt to lay down in my bed but that was a really bad idea. So my wonderful husband Corey said "babe, let's just sleep on the couch together." Thank the Lord for reclining couches. I actually did get some sleep after that. When I woke up this morning I really was hurting.....but I got up and walked circles in the house anyway. And I gotta say....."keep walking it will make you feel better" is just now starting to make sense to me because it seemed like when I walked I hurt more... Now things are starting to ease up just a little. NOW HERE IS AN UNEXPECTED CONFESSION....if I'm being honest.... Last night when the pain from the incisions and gas was at it's worse I lost it....one of the reasons I decided on the lap bad was because if something went wrong or it doesn't work that it is reversable. REALITY SLAPPED ME IN THE FACE LAST NIGHT.....even though it's "reversable" I can't just say I don't like the lap band and pull it out. It's really there....the only way to take it out is surgery. Now I know this is a where you say DUH...... me too! lol. I just did't expect that kind of reaction from myself. This is something I have wanted for years and now it's mine.......so why did I freak out. Emotions I guess......but today I'm still glad I have been BANDED and I am really looking forward to the rest of my life. At this very moment I want to pass gas though....LOL

SUCH A GREAT ATTITUDE!!! Keep it up!!!!

and I have 3 shakes left...... I know some people drink these shakes even after but I swear to you if I even smell another Protein Shake I might gag! I am sitting here just looking at mine for lunch and pouting like my 2 year old son....not wanting to drink it. But alas I know that I have to because that is all I get to eat/drink. Okay so I have 2 questions I would like to know from you guys before my big day..... Question 1: What is your least favorite thing about having the lap band? Question 2: What is your favorite thing about having the lap band? and for pete sake can someone tell me if I will ever be able to take a bite of Pizza again.....lol I mean I really didn't eat bad before but since not eating for 2 weeks I am wanting PIZZA SOOOO BAD! LOL I know I know....BAD BAD BAD. and any last minute advice for after surgery.....ie...recovery.....would be appreciated as well!

Good Luck Roe.....I think you will be fine....you will probably not have to worry about that after surgery. I have the same problem.....don't sweat it!

ahhh THIS IS WONDERFUL NEWS!!! CONGRATS!!! ) I remember the feeling and what a great feeling..... God is amazing and comes through for us when we need it most!

that is awesome!!! Keep it up!!