Zoe

You Texans sure know how to have a good time. Sorry I missed the karaoke!

OK, you can sleep on it, DeLarla, but I expect an answer tomorrow, and it better be yes! You're in my challenge cohort. Burnt out or not, you can do this and you know it! Greg made an excellent point on the main exercise challenge thread: Anyone who loses a pound in this challenge will be a winner. It's a way to try to keep sane in the midst of pumpkin pie, sage dressing, Christmas Cookies, latkes, eggnog and general wretched excess. Remember, no starvation allowed. Hey, Betty, you exercise fiend, are you in?

What a great suggestion, Becky! I can throw in some lotions, etc., too, making sure that we have some macho scents available in case Greg wins. Maybe I should add a couple of bottles of non-irritating pain relievers -- we might need it after all that exercise. OK, there are three of us in the challenge so far, with room for more. Come take us on -- you've got bandsters from three different states ready to spur you into shape. What are you waiting for, maggot?!

Great pictures! I vote for #2, but they're all lovely. And what's all this big booty talk about? You look too slim to have one!

OK, Greg, I accept! I started a new thread on this holiday challenge at http://lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=3818. Monday the 22nd it is. So what's our prize gonna be?

I dare ya! I double dare ya! Is there anyone who's roughly at the same place I am (70-100 lbs. to go, 1-6 months after banding, 35-55 yrs. old) who'll take up a challenge from me? Oh, hell, I'll challenge anybody! Weigh in on Nov. 22 (the 41st anniversary of the JFK assassination), check in again on Jan. 3 (first Monday of the new year). Only rule is: no fasting or other insane food deprivation. Or, if you want, we can have a straight exercise challenge on the honor system; you set the terms, whether it's miles, steps, minutes, etc. One-on-one, in the street, you vs. me. Come on, you competitive bandsters, just try to kick my ass! (Mind you, that's a big target.)

It may seem like a lot to ask of friends, but since they've offered -- please say yes. They are looking for a way to help you because they want to. And you'll actually be doing them a favor by letting them show kindness. Four weeks seems like a long time, especially this time of year, but it will pass quickly. If you would prefer to wait until after the holidays for your surgery, that's another option too. Whatever you decide, good luck to you. You're taking a big step toward a longer, healthier life, and your friends and family will be the richer for it.

FYI, Dr. Lopez Corvala would be called, informally, Dr. Lopez, not Dr. Corvala; Lopez is his father's last name, Corvala is his mother's. And women's last names get really complicated. We'd better call him Lopez Corvala to distinguish him from all the other Dr. Lopezes out there. Catfan, I'm sorry to hear of your bad news. There are other people on this board who have also been diagnosed with erosion; you might want to check past posts to find out more. Good luck -- hope you can find a solution.

Becky and Greg, I love your challenge! Is there anyone who's roughly at the same place I am (70-100 lbs. to go, 1-6 months after banding, 35-55 yrs. old) who'll take up a challenge from me? Oh, hell, I'll challenge anybody! Weigh in on Nov. 22 (the 41st anniversary of the JFK assassination), check in again on Jan. 3 (first Monday of the new year). Only rule is: no fasting or other insane food deprivation. Or, if you want, we can have a straight exercise challenge on the honor system. Come on, you competitive bandsters, dare to try to kick my ass! (Mind you, you've got a big target.) Note: I've started a new thread for this holiday challenge.

I don't get it either. I had my first and only fill a month ago. Of course I had been reading all the fill posts here, so I asked the doctor, "how come it can take a while for people to feel restriction after a fill?" He shook his head and said, "that makes no sense. You'll feel it." Well, I didn't! Maybe conventional medicine doesn't have an explanation -- but then how come so many of us have the same experience, namely, waiting at least a week to feel restriction, or having it come and go for no apparent reason? This is one area where bandsters' experience seems to outpace research.

I thought my incisions were all healed, but my sides are aching after reading Greg's story and Lauri's. That pug puppy probably felt like it was in a department store getting sprayed with the most glorious perfume.

Margie, it sounds as if your life is just beginning! How wonderful that you had the strength and courage to refuse to accept any more years of pain and immobility. Marie is right -- you are an inspiration. The reason I (and probably some others too) suggested that you see a doctor was not so that you'd have someone to talk to; your average MD is not the most sympathetic listener! It's just that your mood swings, which sounded pretty serious, might be the result of hormonal changes from menopause, a nasty side effect of some of the pain meds, or something else biological. If you keep having mood swings, it might be worth checking out. "Put your seat belt on and hit the gas... and let's enjoy the ride" -- amen to that!

Thinking of you, Ryan, as you cross into Bandland. When a lot of us suggested that you do something to take your mind off surgery, repeated dashes to the bathroom wasn't exactly what we had in mind! It gets better, really. You're taking a brave step to reclaim yourself, and we're all going to be thinking of you tomorrow. :banana

Andrea, it's sweet that you're concerned about the nurse who gave you the fill, but right now you should be worrying about yourself. It sounds as if you're way too restricted, and the blood can't be good even if your fill was perfect. I'd be tempted to drive to the fill doctor right away rather than tough it out overnight, but then I'm paranoid. Let us know if there's any change in the next 24 hours -- and good luck.

Hi NY -- My port incision was sore for a couple of weeks. Holding a heating pad to it would help. The diarrhea is normal. (I posted the same question when I was going through the liquid phase, and was reassured by the answers.) EAS Myoplex fruit-flavored shakes worked for me; they taste OK and have a lot of Protein. You're right to avoid dehydration and starvation. Get some calories into you! And walk -- even if you're a little slow and unsteady, you'll feel better. Welcome to Bandland! It gets better.

Hi Fran -- I live in Chicago, and while I had my surgery in Mexico, I'm seeing Dr. Horgan for aftercare. He's well-trained and has a lot of experience. Are you having the operation at the U of I hospital? Good luck, and let me know if you need a local "bandster angel." I'm not very experienced (with the band, much less angel-hood) but I'd be glad to help in any way I can.

That sounds like a dare to me -- which room, Paula, did you have in mind, and when? Thanks, Leatha, for sharing these pictures. You look great.

Margie, everyone has posted some wise words about mood swings, hormones, etc. If you are really worried, see a doctor. It's great that you can go on line and write out your feelings here -- but you might want to consider talking to someone in person. Is there anyone in your life you can talk to honestly about what you're going through? A husband/partner, friend, or family member? If not, you might want to talk things out with a clergy member or therapist, someone you can trust with your feelings, who will listen and respond with care. Good luck. I hope that you're feeling better.

Babs, you are an inspiration to those of us in the early part of our band journey -- no, you are an inspiration, period. Congratulations!

Congratulations, Nancy! What a wonderful NSV. Keep 'em coming!

Ryan, it's really just a matter of hours now. I remember a couple of months ago when you first mentioned your surgery date, it seemed so far off. . . now you're almost there. I am thrilled for you. Yes, it's a scary step, but the rest of us who have already stepped on the banded shore will be there waiting for you and will walk by your side along the path. I can't imagine the heart of the thin man will be different from the heart of his larger predecessor; you're just going to pare away a few outer layers to reveal more of yourself.

That's normal. If you want to know more about what the rest of us have experienced, read old posts here on LapBandTalk; we bandsters might not be medical experts, but we've written a lot about why we decided to get banded, how we feel right after surgery, what it's like to get through the first few weeks on liquids, whether to tell anyone about our bands, and lots more -- including our worries and fears weeks and minutes before going to the hospital. If you have any questions, just ask!

I feel like such a wimp with all this talk of Harleys, since I'm terrified of motorcycles. When I want to feel the wind through my hair, I open the sunroof of my car or turn up the setting on my blow-dryer.

Good for you, Melanie! It's great that your partner will be able to relate to what you'll go through with the band; many of us have people close to us who just don't get it. Is there any chance at all that Kaiser will cover the surgery -- or at least the follow-up care? If your disability is weight-related, the insurer may figure that it's actually cheaper to give you a band than to pay for long-term doctor visits and physical therapy. But even if you have to pay for it yourself, if you're like most of us self-paying bandsters, you'll find it is worth every cent. Good luck. Just think, you'll have a new, improved body in a year!

Penni, that sucks. I hope you feel better. Make that husband of yours do all the lifting, heavy or not! I'm still in my dog-walking groove: at least 45 min. every morning at a good pace that gets my heart pumping. The big November rains haven't started yet, so I haven't had a recent day when I just want to stay in bed. I feel great, but that scale just won't go down! Oh well. I've joined the scale challenge, which is harder for me than this exercise challenge; I shaved my legs yesterday and had to stop myself from jumping on the scale to see how much I'd lost to the razor!