Vera

Done the shopping...(most on line)..made the best stuffing ever today, food thats were it's at, OK the secret, not too much bread in the stuffing, lots of sausage, walnuts, vegis and herbs...I was into cooking this morning! I'm actully looking forward to getting a tree right about now. Here we go, holidays are here! O Happy Day :banana :banana :banana Happy Banana-Turkey Day

Boy do I love getting a fill under fluoroscope! :banana I was so nervous this morning cause I thought the doc was going to find a leak..What other explanation for the complete loss of restriction. I even had 2 pork chops last night, the last time I had 3 bites of a pork chop, I PBed!! So off to radiology I went with my head full of questions for the doc. I landed up waiting 2 hours to get in with only water I was pretty hungry. Dr McKeen struts in looking quite thin...I remark on how good he looks with his weight loss and his remark was "I did it the hard way" Then quickly apologizes and reams "I hope it stays off," we laughed as he pulls out a bag of goodies, syringes and bottles. The radiologist is starting to put 2 and 2 together cause we purposely wrote up the orders for hard to swallow, barium swallow test so my insurance will cover most of the procedure. We start talking about where my fill could have gone and why he couldn't get any fill out the previous time. Then I asked him about contrast and he remarks that he just read that the makers of the Swedish band were suggesting contrast fills because the band's not holding saline for a long time, Why...they don't really know, but he remarks that all bands have a tendency especially over time to loose some fill solution. The fluoroscopy machine is on and the port is accessed the first time, we follow the tubing and indeed a possible kink is reveled, more like a sharp curve, about 2 inches from the port. He tries to pull some saline out but nothing comes out. He has me drink some yummy chocolate barium and we watch it go right through, a good 1/2 inch opening. He puts in 1cc of contrast as we see the stoma opening get smaller, then adds another cc and that's when it got real cool. As I drink small sips of barium you can see it sit right above the band for a second or so then with a couple of spasms in the esophagus, which is like a muscle, the barium slowly goes down about a 1/6th of an inch stoma opening. The band is in the perfect place, no visible leaks, everything looks great besides the sharp curve in the tubing, which at this time were not too concerned about. I even have a picture the radiologist gave me. I'm so relieved! :banana

:banana Welcome Back! Take it easy

Take care Penni! we love you

Thanks for the hats Rebecca :Bunny :Bunny :Bunny

Miss Rebecca Roxy loves her hat just as it is!! Thanks again Hope everyone eles takes a pic when they get theres ... We're going to Tahoe after xmas... the Hat's look cool with our winter atire (words from Rox) :squareeye Thanks for the sweet compliments :nervous

Do I like this? well YA.. I had the hardest concept of atkins, not to put it down but I'm a big vegi/fruit lover. That's the first thing about some diets I could'nt understand.. I understand sugars in natraual foods but when they said fruits had carbs I was thrown for a loop...I could never do atkins for that reason. So here we are told to eat maxium protien...know as saturated fats (not always but really think about it) Megan thanks for setting my head straite?? a high complex-carbohydrate, high-fiber, high vegetable-protein diet ...I can do this

If I could only follow these recomondations, It's good to be slaped once in a while

Very cute Penni! You must have skinny fingers... Lisa, I'm into anything Purple

What's ButterMilk pie? Roxanne and I made 3 pumkin pies from scratch, not can pumkin, just this weekend.

Teresa too>>>Instrustions

I was waiting to say this....But now that you mentioned it. Happy Birthday!! Congratulations :banana :banana :banana I have suggested to have all my rings sized for Xmas. I haven't wore any rings since before summer.

Bump'in for Ginny

I was so exicted about getting a band that I told way too many co-workers and friends. Thus, once I was banded I felt that I better make this band work, and it did. I'm like Michelle and tell those I feel can benifit. Nancy, I'm sure you have helped this nurse, her first step is realizing her health is suffering and you need to do something. This is the safest way I know to get healthier.

What a relief to see your own band and see that it functions correctly! Congratulations on your first fill.

Looking good! Thanks for sharing and keep up the good work!

Chrissy I'm very sad over this also and feel your fustration. I think it's good to warn the pubic of complications due to a particular doctor. So sorry you have to have your band removed. Please keep us informed.

Congratulations!! Thanks for letting us know your home and OK.

Your beautiful!! It was hard to choose between 1 and 3. #3 wins my vote

Yes, about 1.2K...and that was ...8/14/03 :dead

Boobage So What??? your killing me

Censorship.,,,Like I said she was there untill my surgery....Teresa, I haven't seen or heard or Has she responded to any post op concerns... Dang!! quote"I am ticked that I had to pay extra money for services that don't exist." Me too!

Have I been BANDED?

In excess of commi$$on...I know Anne-Marie, even up to surgery, "Not a bad person" She's made lapbands a job, thats all Money always talks

I'm sorry to say..get use to it..Our bodies make so many noises/feeling/tightness. Back a year ago or so. there seem to be stricker rules of what to eat/drink. Do take it easy...drink, sip what you can Your still healing. Nice to see the doctor, isn't it? One step at a time