the best me

amom, you ROCK! I'm amazed and so proud of you and adad. :love:

Here, here, Lady Janey! Well said, and I agree!

I don't care who you are, that just stinks. I'm sorry Sue.

Another 9/11, for one. Here's a Liberal, "Oh please Mr. Terrorist, don't bomb us, let's talk about this. I'm sure that you are feeling so disenfranchised these days, what with all of the terrible things going on in Mecca and that evil Israel that shouldn't even be a country, but if you and I could just have a converstion, I'm sure we could work this out..." KaBoooom. THAT'S scary.

Ugh. Here's a Conservative who'd prefer a wall. Sorry, Tommy, I just have a different perspective and the election results are a real dissappointmnet to me, other than the fact that Nancy Pelosi is sheer fodder for the Conservative Talking Heads. Now THAT will be fun. Not that she'll say anything different, she'll just be saying it more often and with a wider audience. Geez, Louise, Cananda can HAVE her! Glad you feel safer, though??? I'm shakin' in muh boots.

Right, I didn't have that typical Strep Throat symptom, just a sore esophogus. Mine ended up being reflux related, resolved with aloe vera and Prilosec. The kids next door had Strep and I got concerned. Good decision to head to your PCP. Keep us posted!

http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=6713&highlight=esophogitis Laura, read this old thread, particularly Post #4? or 5? by La Madam. It might give you some good insight? Good luck!

http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=17908&highlight=aloe+vera+juice bk, if you use the search feature on the blue bar above, you will find other threads with the aloe vera juice discussed. The link above is the most comprehensive, I think. Good luck!

Good Laura, you are on the mend. Just be super careful, and next fill? Sneak up on it a little. So glad you have some relief!

Laura, you may just be swelling after an unfill. Seems odd, but that's the only thing I can come up with if all looks well under flouro. Get some aloe vera juice to sooothe the band. sip sip sip it all day. When you can finally drink again, be sure to stick to liquids for several days before moving to mushies, etc. just like post-op. Go slow and easy. I know you are hungry. Get those protien shakes in when you can. You need liquid nutrition.

Kleigh, how do I balance my PH level? Mors, I threw out the gross old pillow and got a new Down pillow with an allergan barrier cover. It's taking some getting used to but I like it. I got the pillow Sat, it's Tues, so 3 nights on the new pillow now. I'm adjusting! LOL Thanks. That was just the push I needed to get rid of the yuck.

Missy, I believe your thread has just been Spun. We can't post "over there" unless we want to defend our point of view, and in this atmosphere...vehemently. We can't post "over here" or we are segregationalists who want LBT to hit a new low because we prefer a "safe" place to post. ??? Typical Liberal Spin, in my book, so there went your thread. Oh well. I'm voting today, and you are not alone. Chin up! And T.O.M., I really love and respect you, I just don't always buy it. :thankyou: May God Bless America and Our Troops! (yah, yah...I know)

I'm going to the polls. I have visited my local GOP website and have my palm card for the Republican Party endorsed Judges and other non-partisan offices. There is no Democrat on the ballot compelling enough to keep my Consevative bones from voting Straight Ticket Republican. So, off to the polls I go tomorrow. A vote for the "wrong" Republican is the lesser of two evils in my book. These days, there aren't Moderate Democrats, so a Liberal Republican is as close as I can get.

Oy vey. You asked for it Missy! I have avoided the "I Hate Bush" threads because I just end up rolling my eyes and sighing alot. Everyone has their opinion, and I don't have to agree, so that's okay. I won't try to make anyone agree with me, but I will speak up as a Conservative and say "Yay Bush" and "Yay O'Reilly" and even (GASP!) "Yay Rush!" So there. I won't defend my opinion. Rock on Missy. :rockon:

My word, Terri, you have had it tough! I'm sorry to hear about all this. Here's hoping for a no-drama, quiet, and happy holiday season! Take care of yourself.

Can't WAIT to see pics, Anthony. I'm so happy for you!

The post might have been lost in the LBT server crash, so I can't find it ANYwhere, and I'm wondering if anyone remembers. I don't know the thread title, or the Forum it was in. I *think* it was a guy who was the poster (not the thread-starter) and he was from...Argentia? no...Costa Rica? no...I don't recall. He has been banded 5+ years and he posted something about eating Soups first, and other softer foods, before eating heavier foods, and felt that having a softer diet helped prevent erosion? soemthing to that effect. I wanted to go back and read what he said...it really piqued my interest! Does anyone remember this post? I have done searches but nothing. If someone could just rememebr his screen name? Okay, I'm asking alot. :heh: Thanks for any help!

I Know! I have been thinking about my pillow and I have shamed myself into buying a new one today. I'm taking my son to Kohls. We are getting me a new feather pillow. I don't even want to think about the years of "weight" in that old thing. Yah, *gag*. It can't be good for the skin, it just can't!

Eric, in order to do a poll, you have to start a new thread. There are some interesting threads here on LBT regarding eating habits. I need to hop off for a bit, but if you'll give me a day or two, I'll dig them up and post the links here. I hate to take over your intro, but here we are! Anyone else want to post links to good eating habits threads? I'll be checking back. Thanks Eric.

LOL, it's your amazing mind! Eric replied on his intro thread. Those interested click the link above and join in.

Thanks for replying Eric! You should try warm liquids in the morning and see how that works for you. I was very interested in your post beacuse you said something about eating softer foods first. There's something called "first-bite syndrome" where folks have trouble getting that first few bites down till the band opens up a bit and eating is a bit easier. Folks have to take a bite, then go back 5-10 min later to finish the meal. Seems like eating the liquid/softer foods first is a real help with this, especially warm soups. What you are doing is great with very good restriction, I'd think. But if you have that much trouble getting started in the monrings, are you too tight? My conclusion is that it's better to eat softer foods first and get good healthy nutritious food in, and THAT'S what keep you feeling satisfied longer, not packing the pouch full of hard protiens first thing. ??? Many may disagree with me, oh well, I want a healthy band and healthy rate of weight loss. I have never been hard and fast about eating solid protiens first to stay full longer. I eat them first (because I'm not too tight) because that's the food I need to stay noursihed and lose weight well. I ramble...but would you post more about your opinion regarding erosion? Do you feel like softer foods being a bit easier on the band helps prevent erosion?

http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=24923 Okay gang, here's his intro thread, I posted there to find out what he had to say, no reply yet. I'll post here if I hear anything so no need to scramble around. Thanks Alexandra, I never would have found him! I'll let you know, Betty and Hunny.

You are probably right about the pillow cases. Here's a confession. My feather pillow is probably about 50 years old, and I'm not kidding. I got it from one of my grandmothers upstairs bedrooms after she passed away. I have wonderful memories of being snuggled down in those beds under a ton of handmade quilts, freezing cold in the room, the smell of bacon wafting up the stairs...ahhh. Anyhow, that pillow squishes around my neck just right and I love it. And a new feather pillow is so pricey, I have avoided replacing it, despite the fond memories. I'm certain it doesn't help my skin or allergies, ya think? Ugh. Making the call to have the ring ready for pick-up is on my to-do list today. I'll go one day next week to pick it up. I'll let you know if I get arrested. :faint:

Eric, you posted something about how you eat softer foods first (like soups) and your post ended up being lost when the LBT servers went down a day or two ago. I would LOVE to hear what you have to say about your eating techniques. Being a long-time bandster, you have perspective most of us don't. The "rule" has always been to eat your hard protiens first, so you get and stay fuller longer. But if this is hard on your band (and I *think* you believe it is) then perhaps you are on to something? I think I agree with you! How did you adjustment go?

Thanks! I can't believe you remembered his name! Wow! Maybe I'll PM him. He had an interesting take. The "bandster rules" have always been eat your hard protiens first to stay full longer, but after 18+ months banded myself, I tend to agree with his "softer foods first" opinion, especially with "first-bite syndrome" being such a problem. Don't you love all the lingo? LOL Anyhow, thanks!