New Hope

Teresa, you always post such good recipes! I want to come stay at your Bed and Breakfast. It sounds wonderful.

Emmy, that's how the band is supposed to work...with solids (proteins). Soft foods go through the band too easily and you're hungry sooner and wanting to eat sooner and more often. Sounds like you're doing great!

Wow, Pat, let us know what the ex's reaction is!

Karen, if you DO get it right, will you let the rest of us know what that's like? We're still working on it. (I didn't tell my dr. how much to remove. He was the one that made that decision.) Hang in there, girl! (Hey, 32 pounds is nothing to sneeze at! Great job!)

It's pretty obvious, he is just as great a guy as Blossom had often said he was. I just hope that our little memories have brought a small amount of comfort to him. He's such a special guy to take the time to let virtual strangers know what had happened.

Karen, if some of your drink is coming back up, you ARE pbing. You should stay on liquids for a day or so after a pb episode to allow the swelling in your esophagus to go down. Otherwise you're just repeating the damage over and over. That can lead to serious problems. I had to have only 0.2cc removed once because I was pbing on water. It made all the difference in the world. Best of luck to you!

Paco, I was having a lot of lower ab pains too. I was unfilled for several months, a barium swallow showed all was well. Finally had an upper and lower endoscope done. No band problems, just irritable bowel syndrome (a problem I had pre-band). You might try Gas-X and see if that helps. We have several feet of intestines for food to work it's way through.

Alice, if you're not pbing (throwing up) or sliming after meals, it's possible that you just have very good restriction. Are you able to get your water intake in during the day (to avoid dehydration)? Concentrate on what types of foods that you are eating...high protein, low fat. Perhaps a protein drink for breakfast (if you're unable to eat anything in a.m.). However solid foods will stick w/you longer than liquids. Are you taking a good daily multi-vitamin?

Pat, that's wonderful! Now don't buy too many in one size, because you'll be having to exchange them for smaller and smaller and smaller ones. What a wonderful problem to have!

Congratulations, how much weight would you like to lose? The first time you can tie your shoes w/o passing out, walk up a flight of stairs w/o having the "big one" or keeling over from a heat stroke, find your favorite shirt or pants too big, have someone ask you if you've cut your hair, (and you'll have many others)....then you'll be glad you got your band!

Congratulations! Here's to a noneventful surgery and a quick recovery. Please let us know how you're doing when you feel like it.

Kristi, you shouldn't be drinking w/a straw! The suction can remove the healing clots and cause your gums to bleed badly. An old remedy is to place a soft, moist tea bag (after you've used it) along the gumline. Just gently clinch it between your teeth. (Don't bite down on it hard enough to break it.) Tea has a healing factor in it, will help w/the clotting and pain. Did your dentist give you a peridontal rinse to help w/the healing and prevent infection? Have you tried rinsing several times a day w/warm salt water ---gently swish it around your mouth...not very hard? You want to keep your mouth as clean as possible. If you're brushing, be sure not to hit that area. My son had his out last year (all four). Drinking a warm cup of tea and honey is soothing. It really will get better. (((Hugs)))

Will, congratulations on being banded! I know you and Petunia will be excellent band buddies. Please post when you feel like it.

Hi, EC, have you had any type of surgery before? This is laproscopic, which certainly helps. But they are tunnelling around in there, situating the band. Please allow yourself a realistic amount of time to recoup. I'd rather take off more time than I need than go back too soon. Also, it will depend what type of work you will be returning to. Do you sit at a desk, stand on your feet a lot, walk a lot, do a lot of lifting/carrying? All of this will affect how soon you return to work. Best of luck to you!

Jamie, sounds like you're doing great! Yes, please keep doing your breathing exercises! I got pneumonia after my hysterectomy. I thought those nurses were so nice because they let me lie still all night long. Wrong! I learned my lesson! Get up ASAP, walk, deep breath, cough, and keep your lungs clear.

Pink, right now you're at your most vulnerable stage. You're recovering from surgery, and you're finding you can't continue w/your old habits of eating all the time for comfort. Please hang in there, it will get better...each day. Allow yourself to grieve a little, but please realize that food is not your friend. It was controlling your life to the point that you were at serious risk, possibly early death, if it continued. One thing, I do very little since banding, is watch t.v. That was a guaranteed snacking time and there are way too many food commericials, cooking shows, fabulous meals on movies for me to watch. Please try to find non-food related things to do. You'll find a whole new world out there that you didn't even know existed. Best of luck to you and please come here and "talk" w/us often. We really do understand.

I took part in a 20 mile bike benefit Saturday. I had already committed to it before I knew about Blossom. It was for our parks and wildlife. It couldn't have been more appropriate since she loved gardening and the outdoors so much. The times it got tough, remembrance of her sweet encouraging words spurred me on.

Mary Emily, congratulations on becoming a real-live bandster! And you did it in such style! Please take care of yourself, keep sipping and walking. We want to hear all about it when you feel up to it.

What beautiful living memorials to a beautiful soul! Blossom loved gardening.

One thing Philip has asked all of us to do is "Live happy and strong". Wonderful words of advice.

Philip, thank you so much, that even in your grief, you have taken the time to share these comforting words with us. A love like you two shared is a rare and special treasure. I pray your many happy memories protect and comfort you for many years to come.

No, Janie, Blossom always went by Blossom on here. (I knew her as Carolyn). She was a beautiful blonde Texas girl with a gentle heart.

Jenna, some surgeons do both gastric bypass and the lapband.

I was truly honored to have "talked" w/Blossom a lot. We shared many a laugh and many a tear. She and her husband were true soul mates - in every sense of the word. They absolutely adored each other. They had no children and had recently lost a dear sweet dog who had shared a long happy life with them. They had drawn up plans for a farmhouse w/ a wrap-around porch. They had purchased the perfect piece of property and spent all their spare time working on it. She often laughed of Philip driving that old tractor and how happy he was. Carolyn will be sorely missed but as Philip has said, she will always be with us. Thank you, Blossom, for being the precious person that you were and enriching each of our lives.

It is with a heavy heart, I am sharing a pm I rec'd tonight from our dear Blossom's husband. As many of you know, Carolyn and her husband were in the process of clearing land for their dream home. March 12, 2005, she was driving their old tractor when it suddenly flipped over on her. She felt no pain and was gone instantly. Her funeral service was held on March 16, 2005, in Gainesville, Texas. Her sweet husband wanted us to know that this forum gave her comfort and confidence in the decisions she made in her life. I know you will want to join me in extending our heartfelt prayers to Philip and their precious families during this difficult time. I have pm'd Philip (Carolyn's husband) and have asked for a way to contact him. Her email address is not available. Others have expressed a desire to show their respect. If you have any ideas, please feel free to pm me. Please feel free to post your comments here on this thread. I know they will mean a lot to him.