Marimaru

Ok, so I'm bored and I should be working, but I got together the list of who's who Jan- Christina (I'llsucceed) Feb- donali Mar- Me Apr- Estela May- Nicole (daisydoodle) Jun- bubbame jul- Babs Aug- Vera Sep- DeLarla Oct- Zoe Nov- Megan (December was taken) Dec- Penni And we should include bonus group shots just for kicks Also, if we wanted something like the Diamonds idea that was mentioned for April, we don't actually need diamond props. We can take the pictures, and I can edit the diamonds (or whatever else, flowers, etc) in. _________________________________ Delarla, I'm glad to see you buckin' up

I love those cloaks. I just have to think of a use for one before I go and buy one. tee hee

I call March! No idea what I would hide behind, but that's ok. We'll figure something out. LOL

I tell eeeeeeeeeeeverybody who will listen. I think I was so excited to get it done that I just didn't care. The only people I'm worried about is my dad's family. I told my dad, who told his family (which isn't a problem), but when I go out there for a visit I'm a little worried about what people will say. Some of my cousins have had weight troubles, but they got them under control, and my aunt was always an advocate of eating healthy and watching fat and calories. She often harped on me about my weight. I guess we'll see what happens, but I don't see them often enough to really care.

Okay, for me, right when I woke up felt like a 9 or a 10, but I really think it was the shock of waking up in pain (any at all). I don't remember being rolled into the OR. I was taking to the doc's with my boyfriend next to me and the anesthesiologist put in my IV and shortly after that I was waking up in the recovery room. So since my brain didn't record the steps into the OR I think it wasn't expecting the pain when I woke up. I asked for pain meds righta way and the doctor said he'd give me some, but that I'd have to sit in recovery for another hour. I sat up just a little bit, which helped me wake up a little bit more and when reality started settling it, the pain died down to probably a 7 or even a 6. Every couple of hours the nurses came in and checked my IV and BP n' stuff, and I think that they were keeping me on pain meds, because any time that it got to the point where I thought I might ask them for something the next time they came by, the pain was gone by that time. The next day (Surgery was Friday, so this would be Saturday), I had my IV removed, and was released. The meds they gave me for pain weren't actually pain meds, but muscle relaxers. I'm fortunate in the fact that whatever-they-were didn't make me drowsy at all. I took them about every six hours the first few days. There's a mall near the hotel where I was and my boyfriend and I walked around it on Sunday. On Monday I flew home. That was tiring. I think on that day near the end of the day I was about a 5 after ALL that moving around. But I'm sure the walking was really good for me . After that day I only took the muscle relaxers in the afternoons (I went back to work on Tuesday). On either Thursday or Friday I stopped taking them at all. When I was getting in and out of the car and running errands n' stuff I had a few days where my muscles near my port had quick short little stabby pains of just a couple of seconds, I remember 3 times that happened, and I think I just bent in new ways that tested my stitches. The pains themselves were probably a 7, but only lasted a second, so they didn't bother me. Hope this helps. Sarah *Edited to say:* I had an ear infection a few weeks ago that really felt worse that my surgery. *end edit*

I don't really know what to say. I'm not one of the more active folks on this board, so I didn't get to talk to her much, but I send my well wishes to her family.

I think what they really mean is "I think I look good, tell me so" or maybe it's "I can't decide if I like this or not, make up my mind for me" but either way, i agree completely. -side story- Last night my boyfriend and I were talking about something and he said "I always remember everything" and I replied with "oh yeah? When's our anniversary?" Now, I know for a FACT that he doesn't know this. I don't get upset about it, it doesn't bother me, it's a point of humor between us. It's just funny because that's usually another one of those trick questions. Sorry, had to share

I've thought a bit about this myself. I also have alcoholism in my family. More that alcoholism, I think it's just that "addict" gene, an whatever someone gets into becomes their addiction. Up until not too long ago I never even admitted to myself (or anyone else) that I was fat, let alone that I might be addicted to eating. I was always careful to watch my drinking patterns, because I knew alcoholism was in my family but it hadn't occured to me that I'd already found a dangerous addiction. There was a period I went though not too long ago where I was drinking quite a bit. I caught myself and didn't have anything for 2 weeks. That's what I do when I worry about it. Then I had some over the weekend and none this week during the weeknights. Beyond the empty calories I don't need, I just really don't want to go to that place. I don't even like being drunk, I just like the taste of what I drink (which means it's really the same as the first problem, just in liquid form). I've always liked drawing, but hadn't been for a while and recently picked up again. There's also the online chatboards, and I'm slowly trying to teach myself to read Japanese, among other 'non-consumption' things to do. Fortunately I don't smoke, nor do I have the desire to, because EVERYONE in my family does but me, including my 2 younger sisters who both started when they were under age. :ramble ramble ramble: I guess my point is that I DO allow for substitution, but I'm being very careful about what I'm substituting. I tried to get into crochet and knitting, but I wasn't very good at it, but it's something you might try if you are interested. Hit up a craft store and see if anything grabs your attention.

I walked for 40 minutes today, and I'm going to start doing arm exersizes with my 5lb weights tonight

PB is when you get something stuck, and it comes back up again. Essencially it's throwing up, but there's no stomach acid involved, because it's just what was in your pouch. Sliming, happens when something is stuck. Your mouth and throat make more saliva in an effor to get the stuck thing to go through, but it just sits on top, so you end up gacking up all the slime. Sometimes you'll slime without the PB, but most PB's have slime in them. Hope that makes sense

There are surgeons that will do the surgery on higher BMI patients. Just talk to a different doctor. Good luck!

I love Starbuck's peppermint mochas that they have at christmas. I also was given a sample of the new drinking chocolate stuff they have (can't remember what it's called). It's really good, but boy is it rich! The coffee liquor is good too, and with milk just like Penni said, but my mom and I make homemade coffee liquor (we call it kahlua even though that's a brand name). The longer it sits, the better it tastes, so a batch that we've been able to keep our hands off of for a long time is way better than the Starbucks one (cheaper too!!). I just use milk and splenda in my coffee for the most part. I used to use those flavored creamers, but I quit, because I was trying to tone down my sweet tooth! Sometimes I add cinnamon to my coffee.

I have a card in the same area of my wallet as my medical insurance card. It's the same as the one Scotty described. I have a medical alert keychain attached to my purse, but I doubt if anyone would notice it. From what I understand they are supposed to check wallets for cards, but even still, if they are going to use a tube or a scope they aren't going to keep jamming at it if they hit a block, you know? I wouldn't worry too much about it

That slime is basically your body knowing something is stuck and trying to get it to go through. Unfortunately if food is stuck, the slime has no where to go, so it comes back up. Some of us refer to that as sliming, while the PB is when the actual food comes up. But sometimes I'll slime too and the food decides to go down instead of up. Either way, when that happens you should go to soft foods for a meal or two, because your stoma is irritated and may be swollen.

I've never had a problem, and wasn't told not to eat it. What does your doc say?

I didn't try a soda until more than 3 months out. Sometimes I'll sip on one, but I get uncomfortable if I go too fast. I definately wouldn't recommend it for right after surgery. coffee rules seem to depend on the doctor. My doctor had no issues with me having coffee, but some say no forever. Good luck!

I saw Dr. Rumbaut in July. The total cost was $11,000 plus airfare and hotel. If I got back there for a fill, he wont charge me anything, I'll just need to pay the hospital for the use of the flouroscope. Currently I drive down to Tijuana to see Dr. Kuri for my fills, who is also highly recommended and I believe he charges less than Dr. Rumbaut (I didn't actually know of him when I had my surgery). I like both doctors very much, and when I go down there for fills, the people who are there really speak highly of him.

hmmm... When I get below 200 I want to get a stereo for my car. I wuv my honda, but I want a decent stereo and speakers. When I get to 230 I'll have lost 50 lbs, which is a mini goal, but I think I'll be so happy to be there after my recent plateau that it will be it's own reward! After 200 is 165, because that's the weight I was when I was weighed every day be my dad when he made me diet in Jr. High. I think at this point... maybe I'll go visit him and the rest of my family in CO. They haven't seen me since I had my surgery, and money is tight so it'll be a while before I'm able to head out that way anyway. My sister is supposed to get married in April of next year... it'd be REALLY REALLY cool if I could be there by then. (because I'll be there for the wedding family will see me no matter what I'm at by then ) Major goal is 140. Honestly I think I'd be happy at 160 or 165, but I'd really love to get to 140 just once to say that I was half the woman I was before. And at this point, I'm going to go get my teeth done. They are in really horrible shape and I want to have some dentist evaluate me, tell me how much it's going to cost so I can save up the money and then knock me out and do it ALL AT ONCE! And maybe I'll throw in some laser eye surgery at some point... lol Of course, quite a few of these things were things I wanted anyway that I'm not turning into rewards for the future...

I just ordered the sample too. I'll be the secondary guinea pig

I went to a sushi restaurant and they had a dish where the fish was layed on a bowl of rice, instead of being in rolls or nigiri style. This way I was able to eat the fish, and have as much or little rice as I wanted. Unfortunately I don't remember what the dish was called (to know how to suggest ordering it), but there was a description listed to say that's how it was prepared.

I'm about to start going through my clothes. I told my boyfriend that I'd get rid of everything that was too big, accept for one pair of jeans in my biggest size. I'm keeping them and I might just hang them on the wall! (in the bedroom where no one will see but me). I'm going to keep all my shirts unless they are falling off of my shoulders though. I'm really not going to go clothes shopping until I'm at or near goal. I'll buy some jeans to get me through, but I don't want to spend too much money, ya know? I bought some jeans on sale yesterday for like $7 at target. That's the kind of money I want to spend on clothes for the next year. lol I'm sure that when I go through my closet I'll have some anxiety about keeping bigger things... but in all honesty, most of what fills my closet and drawers is things that don't fit YET. I was in such denial that I'd just keep everything, even if it was too tight. So it's kind of like going back in time for me, to see what's gonna fit n' stuff. I'm in pants that I can't remember the last time I wore them, maybe 3 years ago, and I recall them being pretty tight. The day that I have to buy clothes because I've run out of clothes to shrink into, will be a very awesome day.

I work... outside of work I draw, or play video games. I watch alot of Anime too.

I'm 22 and I had the surgery done in July. Having kids will be easier for you when you are thinner. It's easier to concieve, etc. And, if they feel like you need to get mor nutrition in, they'll just loosen up your band a bit. I think the band is a really great thing, for people of (just about) all ages! AIM: MysticTaeza

What a funny thread. My next mini goal is the weight on my driver's license When I got it (at 17) I put 230. I think I was lying at the time, but I could be wrong. Either way, it stayed that way even when I got up to 280. At my highest weight my DL was wrong by 50 lbs. Now it's only off by 9!

I have 2 kitties. Azriel looks kind of like Eugene that was posted above. She's a little priss sometimes. The other is FuzzButt. She's black and fluffy.