DeLarla

Okay, now that my 3 month challenge is over, I can devote more time to this thread. Here's the skinny: This year I'm eliminating the dinner since coordinating so many people at one restaurant is too time consuming (considering everything else going on.) FRIDAY AUGUST 25, 2006 I'll have an Open House for men and women from afternoon till 6:45 p.m. All men must leave at 6:45 p.m. because at 7:00 p.m. I'll start my Slumber Party. ALL MEN (and those under 18)INCLUDING MY HUSBAND, MUST LEAVE THE PREMISES FOR APPROXIMATELY 2 HOURS DURING MY DEMO, and they're free to return afterwards. We'll just have light Snacks and "Bring Your Own Booze" since the focus for Friday is hugging, catching up, meeting new friends and the Slumber Party (I'm only doing the Slumber Party because so many people demanded it, plus I'm a big ham.) Because everyone here is so special, I will offer 40% off any one item to EVERYBODY for coming. I personally don't want to make Friday night a big drinking night, and I will be staying in that night to get up early and start cooking. Saturday August 26 is the all-day party at my place. I'll be making Sangria this year and a Spanish rice dish. Those that are contributing to the menu can either bring your ingredients or we'll make a trip to the grocery store, so try to come a little early. ~Saturday we'll do an official White Elephant Gift Exchange, so bring a wrapped gift if you want to join. ~Saturday we'll do a clothing exchange around 1:00 p.m. so bring some good underwear since we'll all see them! ~Saturday we'll do our famous name game for Slumber prizes! SUNDAY ~ I hope to ride my Harley with my friends JoLynn & Celest. I can take one smaller rider with me, Chris can take any size rider with him, and I'll see if our local guys can show up and bring some more people for a ride to Lake Mead. Jenna, I need to know for sure if you'll be staying in Voo's room (haha) because some other people would like to stay at my house. Penni, I need to know ASAP if you and John are sharing the futon in my office (small but comfy.) HOW DOES THIS SOUND SO FAR?

Kathy, I refuse to wait, so get the pics posted now! And Vines, the weather is perfect right now, so get that bike back together! (Vines, I'm headed to the banster Sangria Suarez thread right now and need you to answer something there.)

I guess I was different because I had no jitters or worry, I was plain excited and couldn't wait to get on the surgery table. I was living in suicide fantasy at 317 pounds, though too chicken to go through with it. I think another 50 pounds up would have given me the courage to end my own life. So goodbye to thoughts of leaving this world sooner than necessary. NOW I DANCE DOWN GROCERY STORE ISLES. GOODBYE TO SADNESS!

Okay, Kel, with all that said: 1) Change your name from Big Belly Kelly to Kelly On Wheels! 2) Book your flight to Vegas for August 25 for our bandster Sangria Suarez. 3) Start shopping for a bathing suit since we'll spend 8/26 in the pool. This thread brought tears to my eyes, but the sugary sweet kind

DELARLA LOVES PAULA DELARLA LOVES VERA DELARLA LOVES JOLYNN DELARLA LOVES (this list can take days!)

JoLynn, I kept the details really simple. You can see the front fender in the top picture. It's a braid that goes from front to back with a heart & dice on the front (the other end of the braid has bones, like a barrett at the end.) And see my signature with the pink Harley wings? He painted the same decal (only bigger) on the saddle bags. Now I kinda wish I did just a little more but I was afraid to go too crazy all at once.

I cry that Franceca and my sisters and cousin went home. The one in the green pants is Cousin. I told them they have a VERY dysfunctional family because they all call each other Sister and have cute nicnames for each other. They call their cousin, Cousin, and they all hug and kiss and love each other (weird for me coming from such a screwed up place.) It was the nicest girl lunch, and I love them all and wish they would have stayed longer. They love each other. Sisters love each other?

Maybe I ate alligator??? Is there a diff between alligator and crocodile? I know we ate one of them though, and I know I need to know the next time you're making real gumbo. I never liked gumbo till I hate that garbage in New Orleans (they call it debris gumbo.) Sooo good!

Me & my pal.

Sexy Loretta!

Most of you know that my darling Francesca became my friend for life as we bonded in Tijuana. I got my band first, so she got to pick my brains about the surgery, and then I watched her wheel into and out of surgery. Her sister, Loretta, stayed with Francesca the entire time and treated me like a sister, she even brought me flowers and sat with me in my room. Well, I've seen Francesca since then, but yesterday I saw Loretta for the first time since May of 2004, and she looks amazing! She was so inspired by Francesca's weight loss that she's lost 60 pounds on her own! Now Francesca is officially a Harley babe. Not only did she sit on my bike, but she got on back and we went for a great ride together. DELARLA LOVES FRANCESCA, SISTERS AND COUSIN!!!

What a great challenge! I'll be a silent cheerleader as well since Monday ends my 3-month challenge, and I'm exactly the same as when I started. I give myself enormous credit for maintaining, but I love this Onderland dream!

I'm in sabotage mode. The burning & choking in my throat woke me up at 3 a.m. and I can't sleep. Yesterday I bought all the right soft, easy foods like cottage cheese and steamed veggies, but late at night the monster comes out. I'm at my lowest weight right now (by miracle) yet I layed on the couch eating a box of crackers spread with butter, a huge bowl of sugar Cereal, a few popsicles and anything not nailed down. My pouch hurt, my throat burned, but every time I get to this low weight my mind plays games with me. People have been noticing my loss again (it comes in phases) so what do I do? I go crazy and eat till I hurt myself. Paula, I've tried Nexium and Prilosec, but no meds can help me unless I'm willing to help mysef. So, will you move to Vegas and smack me around? The diet doc was so perplexed by my honesty about food addiction that she's referring me to their addiction specialist, who doesn't even deal with food issues. However, my problems are all in my head, and I really need some help. I'm trying to go back to bed with this big, deep sigh... sighing off xo

Paulax, good luck back at you. I had a lot of complications and way too many band-related surgeries, but in the end I'm down 77 pounds. I have problems with my esophagus now, but that's because I can't get my eating in order. I lost my band due to erosion and am stuck with mountains of bills from it. But before the band I didn't want to live, so losing over 75 pounds and getting my life back (even if it's only temporary) was worth it.

I need help in Vegas! You're the only other Vegas person here except me! Who are you, where are you??? Come over at night and tape my mouth shut for starters!

Well, my visit didn't go too well because we never even talked about weight loss. Doc is too concerned with my esophageal problems, which have gotten worse instead of better. She was very serious that I have to get my problems under control or I'll be facing about a 25% change of esophageal cancer due to my Barrett's Esophagitis. I have lesions on my esoph, which were detected during the endoscopie that revealed my band erosion. Now my symptoms are keeping me up at night since I haven't been respecting dietary rules. I'm supposed to give up everything, and I mean everything I love. No more Soup even! Did I listen last night? Nope. Did I listen today? Well, even though I have cottage cheese and Saltine's for lunch, a Coke accidentally fell into my pie hole for Breakfast. What I really need is a straight jacket.

Now THAT was funny!

Danger isn't just with the Lap Band, it's any surgery. If you were getting a boob job or back surgery you would hear the same kind of negative stories from patients that had complications. All surgeries are dangerous, but some save lives - like the band, for example.

I'm thrilled with this thread and the fact we now have someone who once had a band and also had a bypass. I appreciate every ounce of human experience I can get my hands on. I'm also extremely thankful that my band was reversible, and that I'm still down 77 pounds. As far as: "I always heard storys from the bypassers about bandsters being able to fill and unfill themselves if they wanted to eat more" Well, there used to be a married couple who filled and unfilled each other and themselves, though this is a practice hugely frowned upon by the makers of the band and upstanding surgeons alike. Too many injections into the port can damage the port - the object is to get to a good fill level with as few poke as possible.

I don't know the dosage of my Prilosec offhand, but I only take it once a day. It's really interesting how you mentioned sinus, throat, chocolate... all things that relate to me in the same way. I can eat the spiciest Mexican food with no problems, but chocolate burns my throat, and my sinuses and sore throat won't get better. I find it curious that we both got the Barrett's after being banded, don't you?

Are you close enough to Tijuana to drive (or fly) back and forth if an urgency arises? If not, do you have your aftercare doctor lined up? If you are too far to travel, I'd make an appointment with your aftercare doctor and meet him or her BEFORE going to Mexico, just to make sure firsthand that they'll accept you as a patient (many American band surgeons refuse Mexican-banded patients.) Once you have your aftercare plan in order, the number one rule is to TRAVEL LIGHT! You don't need anything except the basics. I carried one lightweight tote bag, while other patients dragged around a couple suitcases of clothes, their laptops, books, etc. You'll meet other patients and will bond with your new banded family, and you'll live in the IV and hospital gown. Bring a toothbrush, one book or magazine, make sure your cell phone works in Mexico (call in advance or purchase a phone card at any drug store once you arrive in Tijuana.) Bring a travel size hand lotion & chapstick, and bring some pink fuzzy booties because they make you feel cute (and everyone sees you and wishes they thought of it.) Good luck!

I saw a diet doctor today, only my appointment got waylaid and focused on my sick esophagus. I was diagnosed with Barrett's Esophagitis during my last endoscopy (that also revealed band erosion.) Even with the Prilosec, my esophagus/throat/ghost-pouch haven't been feeling well lately; I have mild burning in my throat, and stomach acid is preventing me from getting over my cold. Doc pulled out a model of the stomach and explained Barrett's, which is caused when stomach acid pumps back upward and into the esophagus. While stomach tissue is designed to accommodate stomach acid, the esophagus isn't, so mine has tightened up and has spots of erosion that aren't healing (because I'm not heeding dietary advice.) Acid Reflux, also known as GERD (Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease) can do quite a bit of damage to the esophagus. Barrett's is a precancerous condition that leads to cancer in about 25% of people who don't get it under control (don't quote 25% since my doc said she'll get a more accurate number with my next visit - this was her guestimate.) The band is one thing that can cause GERD since it puts pressure on the stomach. When excess pressure is put on the stomach, the flap (sphincter) that usually holds food and liquids down can fail and allow stomach acid back upwards into the esophagus. Overeating, stretching the stomach, even tight pants or binding bras (and the Band) are things that can cause too much pressure. I'm not saying my Band caused Barrett's, but I certainly didn't have this esophageal problem prior to being banded. This is a friendly warning to everybody who suffers any type of acid reflux, GERD, persistent sore throat/choking sensations, etc. If there's acid in the esophagus, it could lead to precancerous Barrett's Esophagitis, which can lead to esophogeal cancer. My doc said this condition can be resolved by eliminating the acid and giving the esophagus plenty of time to heal. All the basic rules of avoiding acid reflux come into play, which is to eat small meals, never lie down after eating, prop your torso up at night or raise the head of your bed, avoid booze, caffeine, fatty food & meat, creamy stuff, and to my surprise, avoid mint, chewing gum and Soup. Soup? Yep, soup is too big in volume to fit in the belly. I always thought the liquid passed through quickly, but it stays in the stomach for a couple hours before exiting the bottom sphincter into the small intestine, so those of us who have been treating our reflux by eating soothing soup and chewing peppermint gum have been doing the opposite. DOH! I realize this is stuff most of us know, and that we wouldn't be obese in the first place if we ate to avoid reflux, but I figured I'd share the warning to obey your band, and if you do have reflux, see your doctor as soon as possible and at least get some meds (like Prilosec, for example.) P.S. Did I spell all that okay?

When I was banded, my belly was shut down for business till at least noon. It's normal for anyone to be tight in the mornings, but there's no telling what your body will do until it's banded. As far as food choices, you should be able to eat almost everything and anything you eat now, only in slow motion and moderation. Some people have problems with bread or dry chicken, but if you take tiny bites and chew till it's liquid, you should still be able to enjoy most foods.

Hmmmmm... have we seen Margo checking in at the challenge??? Hmmmm?

Dana, thanks for your ramble! But like you, I'm the calorie/gym/diet guru with my copy of The Diabetes Carbohydrate and Fat Gram Guide right here in my purse.