kacee

Yeah, even I don't want to see what comes out of me...I like the idea of the black bag with the black liners. Discreet. I mean, can you see walking a clear sandwich bag over to a trash can? Yuck.

I had a "situation" this weekend. I stopped at (I know, I know) at Taco Cabana (it's what you call an "impulse buy") and was going to have a small frozen margarita and taco salad. Had two sips of margarita and two bites of salad and had to leave quick. PB'd into an empty water bottle in the car...now THAT takes TALENT my friends! Started thinking about it and thought I better get some emergency supplies, especially since I am going to California for a week in October and will be on the road and eating out every day. I found something on line called the REDEBAG which is for motion sickness, sickness because of meds, morning sickness, etc. It's a little black clutch with discreet black liners. Now THAT is what I needed in the car! What do you guys carry around? And those who don't who are newbies....might not be a bad idea to get something. This was my first PB away from home....away from a bathroom. (I know....way too much information....):eek:

Do you wear tampons too? That would be much more preferable to a pad I'd think. Tell your nurse when you get there what's going on and ask if you can keep your underware one. They are likely to say no (that's why the tampon) but it's worth asking. If you need to, get out of the house and drive around or go to a mall and walk around or something. Sometimes being at home just sitting is the worst thing you can do. Go run some errands before 1:30. Good luck! We'll be waiting to hear how it goes for you!

I think I have hiccupped, but I am not really aware of it when it happens. I get this kindof pre "ick" feeling and all the thoughts race through my head..."Okay, I REALLY want another bite. If I dare is this going to threaten to come up?" I just had my 4th fill on Thursday and I am REALLY restricted. I am now finding that it is easier to "say no" because I am reacting like Pavlov's dog....I KNOW if I push it there will be consequences. But get this! Yesterday I was passing Taco Cabana and I went in and got a small margarita and a taco salad. Sat and had two sips of the margarita and about two bites of the taco salad and I felt ICK!!! Tossed the margarita, took the taco salad home....also PB'd into an empty water bottle on the way...that was interesting while trying not to let anyone see what I was doing....Got home and had two more bites of the taco salad and then tossed it! It was hysterical but I felt great after that....I GOT my taco salad fix...I actually GOT one....but after those two bites it jusdt didn't have the stranglehold on me that it usually does. Of course this could get very expensive. Buying food and tossing it. It's kindof cathartic for me, but definitely not good on the pocketbook. But I've noticed in the last few days I am really thinking a little harder before I commit to some food....like...is it worth it? Naaahhhh.

Okay, let me preface all this by saying I am not Jewish so I am not that educated in the religion, but, I thought kosher was having to do with the acceptable preparation of FOODS or something having to do with the slaughter of animals in preparation of food. Why would a lap band be any different than a tooth filling or a heart stent? I doubt that you have to ask if those are kosher. It's not like the band touches any food that is eaten. What gives?

HAHA! Never met a man in my life who didn't love being waited on when he was feeling poorly! (That is being said with all affection, David). Hope you are getting perkier and are up and around in no time. Moving around is the best thing you can do for yourself.

The drinking thing is pretty much just a habit. I still have to remind myself not to automatically drink right after my meal...but you know, it's not because it's so HARD....I just forget. If I remind myself (like the old "You can't go swimming for one hour after eating!" we used to get in the 50's from our parents) I remember and don't do it, and I'm just fine.

Check out my thread "Beware and Be Aware-Those taking BP meds". I just bumped it up. Not to be taken lightly!

bumpin' back up

SOOOOO not a good idea! It doesn't matter that you have "been on liquids for a month". You had surgery FOUR FREAKIN DAYS AGO!!!! Heck NO you can't have solids! And yes, you can do damage if you screw up. For probably 30 days (typical time with most docs) you need to abide by the liquids, mushies and soft foods your doctor puts you on. Why potentially defeat the purpose of the whole procedure?

I guess I fall into one of the "results not typical" categories, because I was banded 3 months ago and I have lost OVER 50% of the weight I needed to lose since then. I hear about all these folks who lose 10 pounds in a year or two...I am wondering....what on earth are you eating and do you do anything but sit? IF you are eating the proper things and IF you are eating the proper amounts, how can you NOT lose weight? I have plateaued two times since banding and I know damn well WHY I did. I weigh every day and I log my food every day and I can put my finger RIGHT ON IT and tell you where I screwed up. No mystery there at all!

I found the Big Medicine surgeon....it's John LoMonaco. He's in the medical center. TLC :: Big Medicine :: Bios I don't have money yet either. My big loan from my 401K for my car will be paid off in 2009 and then I'll be able to pull money for this stuff.

I was allowed on mushies after my first week. Mushies includes things like fish (fish filets) and cottage cheese. Both of those make you feel like you are actually EATING and I had a LOT of fish and cottage cheese during those weeks. It satisfied the craving to chew and I was getting GOOD protein in each time too. I love the Grotons flavored (Cajun) fish filets. They are exactly the right size (size of a pack of ciagarettes) and taste wonderful.

To be honest, when I go out and have a nice meal, I have my wine with my dinner. It's not like you will spontaneously combust if you do. It's my choice. I prefer the company and a good glass of wine with a fine meal. This isn't something I do every day, so I don't worry about it one whit. Since you are in the wine business are you CONSTANTLY having dinners with people? I guess that's what you'd call an occupational hazard...if you can keep the instances down to a dull roar, and just have one glass of wine, it would probably be okay if you are careful the rest of the time. Much as I love wine, they are definitely empty calories.

2bthinagn - Amen to that. I didn't tell my PCP until I went to have my BP meds adjusted after 30 days. She was practically jumping for joy when she saw my weight loss, but I don't know how receptive she would have been had I approached her before banding. I am finding that a LOT of professionals are pretty in the dark about banding. They know bypass, but NOT banding!

Yep! You've lost that nice warm eskimo blubber coat you've been wearing (one that made ME constantly HOT no matter where I was). I love having my temperature lowered for a change. It's bad enough going through menopause being hot, but with all that fat I was out of control toasty! This is a welcome change! It's a lot easier to put clothes ON cuz you can only strip so far if you're HOT!

We'll be thinking about all you guys! I remember when I was the one going "any day now!" and just about to bite myself, I was so excited!!!! Your lives are fixing to start completely over and you are going to LOVE your new life!!!! It just gets me all excited all over again!

I mentioned to TerriDoodle in her thread....Dr. Heller comes to talk to Spivak's group. He was there last Tuesday but I couldn't make it. I think he'll be there in October some time. Wanda at Spivak's office just had some fairly extensive work done I think last week. He's one I am going to check out. We have a guy here in Clear Lake named Dr. Todd Adam I have heard good things about. There's also that guy on the TV show Big Medicine who does the post-bariatric surgery PS clean-up that they show. Not sure where his office is in town.

Yeah I was checking them out too, and saw a lot of negative reviews. You have to have the perfect skin consistency for it or you are not a candidate. I think I would probably just find an outstanding surgeon and then talk to him about options. Betsy Jane....Both TerriDoodle and I are in the market for a good surgeon here in Houston, so let's keep tabs together on that!

Dang Terri...every time you post I feel closer to you! I too will be wanting some PS work done and am thinking of surgeons. Wanda at Dr. Spivak's just had Dr. Heller (he's the surgeon who comes to the wellness meetings and talks about PS. He was there last Tuesday but I couldn't go. I think he'll be there again in October and I want to go. There is also a surgeon here in Clear Lake I have heard great things about...Dr. Todd Adam. One thing about him is that he has a surgical center so his work is done on the premises...no hospital bills. A co-worker had a tummy tuck, augmnetation and lipo and her cousin had a bunch of work done too. They LOVED him. My goal, the more I look at it, is to get a number of things done over the next two years.... Number one is a neck lift. I've been left with this horrible old lady turkey waddle. I have always hated those and no way am I gonna have one for very long! I also am getting a little "sunken" under the eyes (whatever it is that opposite of bags). I have some lines on both sides of my mouth that make me look perpetually mad. Those need attending to. I want lipo on my saddlebags so I can look symmetrical in my pants (I am shaped like a pear....the more weight I carried, actually the more symmertrical I was...now that I am losing, the widest point on my are my saddlebags). And I MAY opt for a TT depending on what I look like after another 10 pounds or so fall off. I had an emergency appendectomy at 16 and it left me with a long vertical scar on my mid-right side. Because of adhesions, my fat is disproportionate on my front. I have a bulge on the left side and the right side is flatter where the scar is. Doesn't bother me THAT much, but I am one who has always had a perfectly flat stomach, so tht may get addressed in the fuure. Actually considering my age I think I look pretty darned good and beauticians and cosmetologists have always marveled that my skin is MUCH younger than my years. Let's keep in touch about this surgeon business...

Any folks out there have names of some good plastic surgeons in Houston? I have heard of Dr. Heller. He comes to talk to my surgeon's support group about plastic surgery. Anyone familiar with him or have others who are good at post-wls PS?

I think the way the band is positioned it must impact the amount of air taken into the stomach, or the amount of air the stomach can hold. I do a lot of burping...especially when I eat.

Oh the lovely noises your body is going to make! I would listen to my rumblings (you could hear them across the room!) and laugh! Thank goodness that settled down in about a month. I do growl when I need to put something in my stomach now, but it can only be felt by me and it doesn't resound across the room anymore!

Bandster Hell is the first 30 days after surgery, before you get your first fill, when you are on liquids and mushies. It's great at first because just post surgery you aren't really hungry because everything is still swollen and tender...but THEN you hit about the two week period and all hell breaks loose. The band isn't restricted yet (yes, it is NOT working yet) and you are STARVING and can still only have liquids and mushies. I actually did reasonably well during this period. I just kept eating cottage cheese and puddings and lots of jello and thing that gave me the feeling I was eating instead of drinking. You get really starved to CHEW something. Most everyone goes through a period where they feel they will chew their leg off.

There is a thread here somewhere "Was it worth it?"....all you have to do is thumb through that one to hear some rousing HUZZAHS! I went for my 4th fill last Thursday and my surgeon was there and stopped in. He saw my weight loss from last month (11 pounds) and he looked at me and wiggled his eyebrows and said, "It WORKS, doesn't it!" and I beamed back at him "You BET it does!"