sue11

Yes, let me know when you're on this side of the pond! Do you have my cell ###? There is so much food in my house!!! We had a BBQ today, I had little bits of all my favorites, but my head's not fooled. All those good salads, wings, burgers and pies are calling me!!! If I were smart I'd go for a walk, but I'm just too tired. Everybody just left and this is when I usually go get myself a nice plate of leftovers, as I'm ususally a little too busy to eat much while serving and visiting. I'm really looking forward to my fill, the idea of the small protion at least making the tummy hunger go away will sure help with the head hunger too.

I've got to walk more, and I rarely do it by myself...call me whenever, i'll try to ge free.

dawneb... CONGRATS!!! Glad to hear you're doing well. Just make yourself a priority for a bit & I know you'll do well. When I did want to lay flat i put a pillow under my knees to take the preasure (stretch) off the tummy. Gas hit me day 4 and WOW! Just remember if it does...WALK...WALK...WALK!

Pinenut... St Joe's support group is next the 1st & 3rd Monday at 6:45, so we meet on Monday the 18th...hope to see you there. My husband asked last night if anyone wanted chili, I say "YES!!!" He thougth I was kidding and laughed at me. Blended chili is pretty good! I think I'll have the leftfovers for lunch today! I'm somewhat enjoying my closet right now. 4 Weeks ago I was plowing through trying to find my more roomy clothes that would fit, now it pretty much all fits, and some it too big...fun! My clothes may not be fancy...I haven't wanted to shop for years b/c nothing looked good anyhow, but at least they fit better now. Helps me remember, as I sit here with ny tummy growling, that it IS and WILL BE worth it!!!

dawneb... I am continually amazed that we can take in so few calories, but the wieghtloss will sometimes stall. It's hard to figure out what your body is living off of. I guess it shows how resilient our bodies are and how well it can protect itself in hard times. I just keep reminding myself that it is coming off and that's what counts. It took me years to put my body in this shape, it's going to take some time to reverse what I've done. I get a little frustrated with other people who know I've had surgery and don't realize it's not the easy quick way out. It still takes dieting, exercize and alot of hard work inside and out to make progress...yipee for us, we're on our way!!! :girl_hug:

Wierd dogs!!! Just like kids, even when you finally get a moment to pamper yourself they have to find some way to bring you back down to earth. Good luck with the pie tonight, protien drink isn't much of a consulation! I have to say, I can't seem to get food off my mind today. Feeling very deprived. DH & i thought we'd go to a movie, but can't find anything to watch. Guess I'll have popcycle and go for a walk...yipee!?! grrrrrrr

A "Magic Bullet" is a must in my book. They run about $60 at Costco. Comes with 5 or so "cups" that you blend in and drink out of. I picked up the same type thing made by "Cooks" at Penney's for $30. They work great! Blends protien drinks smooth & frothy. A little ice with the protien and you've got a shake. Blends in fruit or blending anythng to smooth, way easier to use & clean than a full size blender. ljuht115... I think our recovery is running parallel. I was at work until about 4:00 today and "hit the wall" One minute you're doing OK, the next you body says "OK, that's enough" and you can barely put one foot in front of the other. I came home and plopped in bed at 5:00, thinking I was done for the night, got a little rest then felt much better. I think I need a little nap at 3:00 each day...it's a nice thought anyway. The port soreness does get worse as the day goes, but that's a little better each day. This too shall pass...won't be long and it will all be behind us.

Pinenut... Ya, we missed you, were hoping to meet you last night. Maybe at the next meeting in 2 weeks if not before. I am finding the meetings helpful. It's great to have access to a nutritionist for questions and meeting people that are in the same place I am is sooooo good for my emotional progress. Mer... Thanks for asking, still working on the gas. Gets pretty bad by the evening, I end up walking/pacing until I can finally burp. I feel like a baby with my fussy time in the evening! We need to walk SOON! PS...Wendy sent me the email flyer you sent out. I love the clothes, it must be really fun to design and sew them! We (my kids & I) had a good belly laugh at the picture of your "happy" boy...lol...lol...lol

Pinenut... Wendy & I are going to St Joes Support group tonight. My name is Sue & I'll be in a fushia shirt & clack pants. I'll look for you!

OK...I've got to gripe...SHOLDER PAIN!!! :welldoneclap: I'm so sick of it! I'm beginning to think that I'm going to have sholder pain every time I eat. I'm taking gasX and walking, and that helps, but Friday PM I was walking up and down my block in so much pain I couldn't speak, the pain from the surgery was easy compaired to this. I'm finding myself holding back on eating and drinking because the gas/sholder pain that follows, I have to force myself to drink my protiens and fluids. Did anyone else have the gas/sholder pain that didn't resolve shortly after surgery? Did it eventually go away? OK...done venting now...I do fell quite good otherwise! :success1:

Ljuht115... Wendy & I walk in University Place (SW Tacoma) and we try to go several times a week. We were especially concentrating on Fridays @ 11:00, but we each have had our surgery in the last couple weeks, so we are just getting back on track. If you're in the area give a call and we may be walking that day, we love to meet other banders! Love to have anyone come...drop a note if you're in the area. Hope to meet you soon! I'll send you my cell.

Wendy & Mer... I see Dr Oh @ 10:15 and could probably squeeze in a short walk before going back to work. I've missed so much already i really don't think it will matter much. My energy level says take a nap, but the pain in my sholder says "WALK!" I'm feeling grumpy tonight...tired of being sore, tired of liquids, missing my comfort foods! Found out today we will have to have our Lab put down, she's got a tumor. It's interesting how I'm learning about myself and how I've used food to comfort and soothe.

Back at work today, just to put out fires then I'll be back on Friday. It's hard to sit up at a computer, and the sholder pain just hit, so I think I'm going to head home. Those who have been banded awhile... Does the sholder pain eventually go away (how long)? Or does it continue to come with gas pains (in stomach) even after the abdominal gas from surgery has fully absorbed? Seems to come whenever I drink, though it's hard to tell b/c I'm drinking all day long.

Can't say it's been the best of days. I felt pretty good this AM, went for a mini-walk with Wendy, felt great to get out of the house. About mid-afternoon I started to feel like crap. Head-ache, body aches, stomach ache/upset, GAS and more trips to the bathroom than I can count. Working hard just to get water down tonight. I'd be worried, except it seems my husband & son are feeling a bit the same. Just my luck to get a bug 4 days post-op. Oh well, this too shall pass, and I keep telling myself how wonderful I'll feel when it does.

dawneb... Dr Oh has us on clears only for 1 week then add protien shakes. At 4 weeks posop we add mushies. Very restrictive from what I see from other Docs, but seems to be very effective, I certainly don't want to go through all this and not get the best results I can, so I'm glad for the tight restriction, I may not be ashappy about the restrictions in 3 weeks though! I think Dr Shrikanth is a similar, but not quite as restrictive. I think both are safe and effictive. I think the pre-op diet realy get you to that "I can't wait" stage. I really wasn;t nervous, even the morning of surgery, and they take great care of you at St Francis. Wenjea... I'm really ready to get out of here for a bit. Tay & I went for a walk late last night, the fresh air and moon light was wonderful! Maybe the Puppy park?

Day 4 here. Still fairly painful at port site, but moved from the big meds to tylenol, so i would expext to feel it a little more. I figure if it's about the same on tylenol then that's inprovment. i agree with the rumbling tummy. Not hunger, but gas moving around. I described it as "dinosaur night at the WWF" :drum: I'd like to go for a walk down the block, but am a little worried about being that far from the bathroom...water in...water out! I'm just doing laps aroung the house right now.

Hi guys...I'm an official bandster now!!! Just got home from the hospital. If it weren't for the port pain I'm feeling great. The port pain is pretty intence. haven't really has any gas pains...yet. I'm sure there will be some coming. I've been able to be up quite a bit, though I've really got to hang on to that port. I think I'll lay down now...was right next to the nurses station at the hospital...got 1 hour of solid sleep. with pain meds i can hardy hold my eyes open...so i think I'll got close them!

Merrillee... sorry I couldn't make it, I had forgotten that my daughter had a band concert at her middleschool tonight. I missed the last one, so I didn't dare miss another. Well...the bag is packed and I'm ready to go, suppose i should go get some sleep now, though I should get plenty tomorrow!

Thanks all for the encouragement!!! Merrillee... I'm tempeted to try to make it to your party tonight, got to make sure everything is calm and ready at home first, so really not sure. I'm interested in your dog clothes, do you have a show coming up soon? Wendy... I found several sources for braclets & charms, I'll show you sometime.

Thanks for your thougts and prayer!!! tomorrow is my day! I figure if I can watch Wendy go through her first week (the worst of it all) and I'm still not scared away, then it must be something I really want. did anybody else "nest" before surgery? I cleaned my office at work yesterday then came home and worked until 11:30 cleaning and re-arranging my spare room/office. It will be my hide-away when I need a quiet spot away from the business of the house. I've got everyting arranged and ready to go! I was still wound up so I watched my TIVO'ed "Dancing With the Stars"...way to go Apolo! Merrillee...so sad we missed you yesterday, that would have been so much fun.

Wenjea... So great to turn that corner. Give me a call, i can squeeze in a little walk if you want to get out of the house. LJUHT115... That must be really frustrating! Good for you for finding a distraction. For what I've been able to figure I may be in for quite a wait on Thursday...a movie is a great idea.

Yep, Merrillee it's my turn on Thursday. Ready to get on with it. I did go to support group tonight. it was good. Met alot of people, there just over 20 people there. They are very encouraging, friendly, open group. The leader was the nutritionist from my ed class today, Laura. She's lively, friendly and knowledgeable. They had a clothing exchange (this was their 1st one) and I came home with several pairs of pants to shrink into. From my one time experience I think this group can be very helpful. Wendy...I met a gal who live in UP who really wants to walk with us. She was realy nice and we seem to be able to relate in many ways.

Thanks for the history of the local Docs. Seems they are all well trained and have long sucessful track records. I don't think you can go wrong with any of them, just choose one you're comfortable with and go with it.

A few of you were talking about hernias. Do you know if they find and repair one, does that add to the cost?? Maybe it just depends on your dr? Just curious since I'm trying to account for every penny. dawneb... I concure with ljuht115. I am having a hiatal hernia reapired also, Dr Oh says any additional cost for the repair will be billed to my insurance and should be covered even though my band is not covered.

nbjen... dr Oh is with Franciscan Health Systems. They have meetings at St Francis (Federal way) and St Joes (Tacoma). Anyone is welcome. Are you in auburn? https://www.fhshealth.org/Bariatric/support.asp