New Hope

Lauri, if you're still in Houston, please let me know and I'll come and see you! Hope all is well!

Been visiting different friends here and there today. Going to a Christmas Eve party tonight. Will have Christmas dinner with family here tomorrow. I really lucked out! One friend fried a turkey as a gift to us. Another bbq'd a brisket for us. (Apparently not just "fatty" bandsters give food gifts. LOL) And my son was given a ham at work. All I have to do are the sides. Thank goodness for my band! I can enjoy all of that, but not too much.

Kelly, I'm not sure where my list is right now. But I'll look for it after the holidays. Have you tried searching the internet? Nancy, do you have a list from that book you could post here?

It is SNOWING in Houston! Not much yet, but it's a start. Got to take the dogs out and watch their reaction -- too funny! Becky, I'm sending some your way, o.k.?

Congratulations, Darcey! Hope your recovery goes as smoothly. Keep drinking that water and walk, walk, walk!

Wow, Kelly Ann! Great loss! It sounds like you're out there enjoying life now. That's wonderful!

Nancy, that's the only thing Dr. Spivak had me do before the banding - go on a low glycemic foods list. It wasn't hard to follow at all, really healthy good foods that we should be eating anyway. I just thought it was to "shrink the liver". Thanks for the useful information!

Yes, Merry Christmas to everyone! May you be warm, content, and healthy - with plenty of good, healthy food and drink, surrounded by family and friends you love. And if you don't get what you want, may you find it on sale afterwards - in just your size and color!

She was here in Houston with her Mom. But I haven't heard from her in a couple of days. Hopefully, she's doing fine now!

Take care, Penni! Hope you have a smooth flight to and from, a wonderful visit with family and friends, then safely back home to the comfort of your own bed.

Who is doing your surgery? How much weight are you wanting to lose? How long have you known about the Lapband?

Good luck and PLEASE have your aftercare lined up now!

That is wonderful! Have you had any problems with your band? Could you give a brief comparison of your life preband to now. Congratulations!

Try Mylicon Baby Gas Drops. Those seemed to work better than Gas-X. Move around as much as you can, use a heating pad, and try a nice, warm shower (with the head on pulse) hitting your back and shoulder blades.

Ashleigh, try to remember we didn't gain this weight overnight, so if it takes a little time to get a solution, that's o.k. My insurance originally denied me, I appealed, then 8 months later got my band. But it was definitely worth the wait! Meantime, study, study, study and ask ??

Teresa, if you have a trusted mechanic that can check your car to see if it's structurally sound, it could be worth fixing. Most of the time the insurance company wants to total a car just to save them $$. But you know your car better than anyone. If the frame is stable, it could be fixable. They'd have an obligation to fix it back right (at their expense). And to give you a rental car in the meantime (at no expense to you.) Just don't let them rush you through on a decision. Get someone you trust to check it out thoroughly and advise you first. Our neighbor's daughter rear-ended someone, was told her car was totaled. 2 weeks later, it was sitting back in their driveway - looking good as new! She uses it everyday.

Teresa, I'm just seeing this post! I hope you're o.k. Really, do follow through with your dr. and get everything documented. I do hope that you have no health aftereffects from this now or ever. And I hope the jerk that caused this will either fix your car to your satisfaction or get you something else that's good and dependable (without you having to come up w/a car note). My son had a girl fly past him in his apt. parking lot, scraping against his car. She admitted she was at fault. He went on to work. By the time he got there, the police were calling him about a "wreck". She lied, a witness lied. She got the fancy rental car for 2 weeks, got her car all fixed up (at our expense), and my son got the increased insurance premium for having an accident on his record (for the next 3 years). He was driving an '85 Blazer that only got the bumper scratched. Despite him taking a signed affidavit to our insurance co., they still paid all of her expenses. If your budget is like mine, you don't need to take on another car note right now or deal with finding a decent used car. I really hope you're o.k. and you get this car situation straightened out as effortlessly as possible for you!

Pertaining to Gastric Reflux...from the gastrologist's directions sheet (used with permission): MODIFICATION OF LIFE STYLE RECOMMENDATIONS: *WATCH DIET --Avoid provoking foods (see list below) --No eating for 2 - 3 hours before going to bed --Eat smaller meals *EXERCISE --Avoid vigorous activity for 1 - 2 hours after meals --Bend at knees and not waist *ELEVATE HEAD OF BED 4 INCHES -- BY USING 4x4 BOARD OR 4" BRICK UNDER LEGS OF BED *AVOID WEARING TIGHT FITTING CLOTHING *STOP SMOKING AND DRINKING ALCOHOLIC beverages *REDUCE WEIGHT GERD: PROVOKING FACTORS: *FOODS --Mints --Tea --Chocolates --coffee --Tomato --Fatty or Fried Foods --Black Pepper *ALCOHOL, CIGARETTES, COFFEE (INCLUDING DECAFFEINATED) *LYING DOWN WITHIN 3 - HOURS AFTER A MEAL *DRUGS --Nitrates --Calcium-channel blockers --Anticholinergics --Theophylline --Oral B2-agonists --NSAIDs --Antispasmodics --Phenothiazines --Tricyclics --Neuroleptics --Narcotics

Yes, you definitely want to be on the inside looking out. Hope those not as fortunate have a warm shelter for tonight with plenty of warm soup.

Becky, that sounds like here. The last real snow that stayed on the ground for several days - was years ago. People were sliding through stop signs right and left. They don't know how to drive in it! All the cars had snowmen built on their hoods. Just about everyone took off work and played. The bosses didn't even question it. Dogs didn't know what to do with their paws. Too funny!

Really, just find out everything that you possibly can - from forums like this, doctors, many other websites, asking questions, etc. Best of luck to you on your search for better health!

Research, research, research - no matter what you decide to do! How much weight are you realistically wanting to lose? Have you tried other forms of weight loss? This is not a quick fix, but a very serious solution. You have to be able to do the head work for this to work. If you continue bad eating habits, you can eat around the band and it will not work for you. Those type of continued habits could endanger your life. There really is so much to learn about any type of weight loss surgery BEFORE you do anything. Please be sure that you find out as much as you possibly can - about any procedure, any dr. that you're considering, the follow-up care available (absolutely vital for this to continue working), and of course -whether or not your health insurance company covers this procedure. Lots to learn!

And no Paula, dandruff doesn't count!

Would one of you that has actually had this problem start a new thread about this company? Please list their name, any contact names, phone numbers, emails, addresses, etc. - anything factual that you can share. People really need to be aware of this serious problem. Just too many times, and always the same $$, for this to be a coincidence or accident. They've certainly gotten enough complaints about this problem. I'm so sorry that this has hit ya'll at Christmas (or any time for that matter)!

Leave right NOW, Betty! Go home! Get your fuzzy, warm slippers on and have a cup of sugar-free hot cocoa. I already told your boss it was o.k.