phyllser

First, Congrats, Janet, on the white pants! That's great! I'm having a great time in Buffalo but not expecting to see that the scale went down while we were gone! I am trying to make good choices and eating small amounts, but too much eating out!! There were so many take-home boxes in my sister's refrigerator that last night I dumped several down the garbage disposal! Now there's another one from lunch today and going out to dinner with my Mom, sisters, etc tonight! Tomorrow we're going to Niagara Falls....to a casino! I probably won't see more of the Falls than the mist rising in to the sky! But I won't be eating much either! Just feeding the slots instead! pills.... I took liquid Vitamins for the first month or so...terrible tasting stuff! The liquid Tylenol wasn't bad. Gradually I got brave enough to try my normal vitamins and pills. I do have a chewable Silver Centrum that I take, and chewable Calcium. I plan to look for a liquid fish oil suplement, but right now still taking the huge capsules and they go down without a problem. I was a little nervous after the first fill, but so far okay. I may be a little more cautious after the 2nd fill (Oct.8th).

Don't be nervous. It's a simple surgery. You'll be back to normal in no time! The food stuff is the hardest adjustment... first the liquids, then the mushies & then gradually to normal food, but small amounts. It just takes time to get used to it all. You'll do great! :clap2::clap2:

Wow! I was the last one on last night and the first one this morning?! Where is everyone?? I guess I better get a life!

I'm not taking anything for my arthritis right now, but have no trouble swallowing all my meds/vitamins in the morning and i take a great big fish oil capsule. I start with warm coffee, proceed from there a few at a time. No problems so far.

Chris, Congrats on the great progress you have made. As for the insurance, I used to be a Pre-cert nurse for one of the large health insurance companies and I always tell people..... APPEAL, APPEAL, APPEAL!! Get support from your doctor, submit progress report, try again!

Whoa! I'm on Medicare, too. They didn't tell me anything like that. No supervised diet, no psych, no nothing!

I agree. No one does fish fry like Buffalo! We went to a place out by the airport last night. Fish was so huge I think I ate maybe 1/3 of it and a little German Potato salad. The rest is in my sister's refrigerator! It was great! Trip was okay. Don't do "red-eye" very well...too old, I guess! I was exhausted yesterday. Could not sleep on the plane! Seats were so tight on the second flight that they took mercy on me & put me in 1st class! That was nice, but embarrassing.

HAH! You can bet he'll be on my sister's porch bright & early every morning! After HIS sister feeds him a big herkin' breakfast! Last time he stayed at her house I think he gained 10 lb in about a week!! He's really a sweetheart, just can be a little "oppressive" at times. Don't be too hard on him! You'll probably meet him this winter! I can't believe we're only a little over a month from heading south!! I am really excited to go back! I love it down there! Of course, I've never been there when it's 120!! I will go easy on the FAT! Thinking I can order that fish grilled or peel off the good stuff!

Oh, Contraire!! I WILL be online whenever I can get at someone else's computer. Both my sisters have fast connections. Forget Mom... she uses WebTV. I don't think I have the patience for that. But I'm stayiing at my sister's (DH stays at HIS sister's 5 miles away), and just hoping her computer is no longer in the basement as I don't do steps well!! I won't be online much, but you'll hear from me! Janet, I'll tell you all about my fish fry since you are a fish fan, too. It's a weird Buffalo tradition.. going out for a fish fry, usually to a saloon, on Friday night. May extend beyond Buffalo, but I don't know!

Good Morning, All! :update: I saw my primary care doc this morning & she is pleased with my progress so far. I'm down 37 lb. and my BP is down. DH & I are on a "red-eye" to Buffalo NY tonight to visit family for a week. Hope I do okay with the food!! I want a Ted's Hot Dog and a Friday night fish fry!! I will only be able to eat a small piece of fish, no bread, a little cole slaw and German potato salad, I hope. Maybe I can split with someone. My Mom is a good candidate. She's 85 & doesn't eat much! She'll probably share with me. Ted's hot dog will have to be without the roll, but I'll probably have to have one for lunch one day! I know the airplane seats will be more comfortable!

Hi, Don't know where everyone is lately. I am doing okay. We were staying in our RV for 5 days and eating out too many times so I haven't lost any weight this past week. I'm down a little over 36 lb. Tomorrow night we are flying back east to visit family for a week, so I'm concerned about that, too. Won't be eating normally and will have to exercise a lot of self discipline!

Congratulations! that's wonderful! Great pictures.

Forgive me.... I saw it in yours & pasted it in to mine, too. Not only a favorite of mine but so appropriate for this journey we are on!! I should've asked you first if it was okay! sorry. I wanted to ask.... anyone been to the fair?? We went on Saturday with our daughter and her family. I ate FAIR FOOD!! I was extremely cautious, but I did have a few bites of a funnel cake, one scone and some BBQ from the Young Life booth. They were very kind and allowed my husband to persuade them to give me only the meat, no bun. They put it in a little styrofoam cup and let me have both cole slaw and beans instead of one or the other. So I had these three little cups.. probably held about 1 cup each. I had maybe 1/2 of each. My patient hubby, who is trying so hard to "HELP" me, watched me eat and sat patiently by until I was finished and then he ate the rest. A big sacrifice on his part because he's one of those people who has to have his food HOT!! I was satisfied but not FULL and uncomfortable. we were there for 5+ hours, so I think I did okay!? I had my first fill last MOnday.

Travel agent just emailed me some great rates for a 4-day to Baja out of Los Angeles.... $300-350, in April. She's still looking for better rates on Holland America to Alaska, but would have to be May or September. Thoughts anyone????

Welcome!! You'll find lots of support here. Its a great place for learning. Where did you have your surgery?? I had mine at Virginia Mason in Seattle, Dr. Hunter, July 20th.

Hi, Wasn't it Lynette that was keeping running stats of our numbers? I, for one, haven't remembered to send her mine in a LONG time. We were supposed to email her every Friday! Maybe it was Laurend!? Who remembers??? Laurend, Lynette, are you out there today??? Remind us who we're supposed to email that info. I think it was Laurend. And she's very busy now with school now. But it would be interesting now that we're pretty much two months out from surgery, to see the actual numbers as to how we're all progressing. I tell you what... if one of MY friends/relatives that made that comment, "Don't you wish you would've MADE her do this sooner???" I would NOT have kept my mouth shut!! Talk about LIVID!! That person would've gotten an earful I'm afraid! That was downright RUDE!! I have to confess I ate FAIR FOOD yesterday! I had a scone! And part of a Funnel Cake... not too much. And my DH, again exerting his control, persuaded the Young Life people to give me BBQ beef without a bun and then let me have beans AND coleslaw instead of one or the other since I wasn't having the bun or the drink that was included with their "Meal Deal"! Then he watched me eat some of it and when I knew it was time to quit, he had what was left for his dinner! I think I ate about 1/2 of each and probably a cup or 1 1/2 cup of food! More than I've had since the fill! But didn't feel uncomfortably full. I think when we are in social situations, it's easier to ignore signals our band is sending us that we've had enough. Because this morning, a couple of bites of breakfast and I was feeling full already. Yesterday it seemed like I could eat and eat and not feel full! What's that about??

Uh, there should've been a period after the word pizza in that last post! That was dinner last night and then I had another piece for lunch today, thin crust, VERY thin, and a few veggies, Italian sausage. NO greasy pepperoni and not too much cheese. It was my first since surgery. I don't eat pizza very often, just when DH can't stand it anymore and HAS to have some! :pizza:

Sounds like you're right on target. I had my first fill last Monday and things are going very well. Able to eat like one small piece of pizza, one egg and a spoonful of potatoes for breakfsat this morning & a little shaved ham. Tried 1/2 sandwich and a cup of soup yesterday at one of our favorite lunch places.. hadn't been there in at least a year. I managed to eat the insides of the 1/2 sandwich and 1/2 of the cup of soup before I was full. DH is gaining weight eating my leftovers!

Glad you're back!! Happy Healing! You're on your way now! :whoo: :pizza:

Well, that blouse story made me laugh out loud!! Even got a grin out of my DH!! Yeah, time to retire those clothes!! My bras are getting roomy & some shirts I have are threatening to fall off my shoulders so I will be a lot more careful since I read your story!! You're doing gREAT!!

Don, I've been on Medicare for 5 years (disability). They paid for my surgery and from what my doctor's office told me, very easy to get approval. They don't require psych consult or documented previous weight loss attempts. I was told that they won't pay for the initial dietary consult my doctor required, but so far I've not been billed for that either! As for spouse's weight loss.... mine isn't losing with me because he eats everything I can't eat! If we go out to eat, he eats his meal and then finishes mine so his little pot belly is growing! I think he's gained 10 lb. while I've lost my 36!! :omg:

:hungry: I vote YES, too!! :hungry:

Hi, All, I'm doing great and pleased with this first fill. I'm not getting too hungry, feel full after a small amount. Could probably stand to be a bit tighter, but go back Oct. 8th for another adjustment. Chim... I don't know how you can work that many hours!! You must have a lot of stamina!! Ruby... You're doing great with the exercise... congrats on outlasting the skinnies!! IndioGirl (Janet).. you, too! Doing great with the exercise! I'll ask about a west coast cruise next time I talk to that travel agent. I didn't like the Holland America prices on the Alaska cruise in August. $1100--1200+. That's no air fare. Too much. Norwegian goes out of Seattle, too, and a lot less, but probably would have to be May/early June or September. Jackie.. glad things are going better for you. Denise... hang in there... it will get better. Dini... glad to have you back. We miss you when you're among the missing. Marcy... that WAS an impressive anniversary celebration your hubby cooked up!! Donna... WELCOME. Okay... that's all the names I can remember for now. I'm old, don't forget! Compared to most of you, anyway!!

Surgery July 20, first fill this past Monday, down 36 lb.

That short cruise to Catalina and Ensenada sounds like something to consider. Anyone else have thoughts on that?? I think April/May or Sept might be a good idea, too. Prices are always higher in the summer months.