cj_ole

My most hated one is that because I am 43, not married, never been married and never gonna be married, and I have a very "tom-boy" look, I must be a lesbian.

My uncle was a gay man who served in the Navy. He fought for this country as did many other gay men and women. Anyone who would dare tell me that he was a bad man or going to hell because of his sexual orientation better come out ready for a fight, cuz Im telling you, I'd kill them. Unfortunately, he was from a time before any of this was "socially acceptable". It was something we all knew, we just never said it out loud. Aren't you curious just how many good men and women there were who fought for this country well before they lifted the ban on homo-sexuals? CJ

I have to agree with L8BLOOMER. I personally did not vote for Mr. Bush. I think the man's pretty much an idiot on ALOT of things. That said, he IS the leader of this country. The majority of us elected him to make these decisions for us, and simply because of that, we should ALL stand behind him. We have the right to disagree with anything and everything that he does, but I would hope in the end, we would throw our hats into the ring and give him our support. And, for the record, I wouldn't call anyone I didn't know personally anything, so if anyone has taken any offense to something I voiced my "opinion" on, then I appologize. CJ

I guess that IMO, my post spoke more to the fact that we, as AMERICANS, should stand behind the decisions of our country's leaders. We put them there, the majority of people elected them, and now we must, or at least should, support them. Surely, we have the right not to agree. That is part of this great country. But, when all is said and done, our support should and must be behind the decisions that they make. Do you people remember 9/11?? Is it so far in the past ALREADY that you have forgotten the pain, grief and agony that this great country endured? How can that be? We have a duty to the victims of this ATTACK to ensure that it never happens again, and we need to remind the people who stood behind the man who instigated it all that we WILL NOT stand back and let it happen again! No, I guess I don't "agree" with everything that has happened with the war in Iraq, however, I KNOW that I will say and do ANYTHING to feel safe in this country, my home! CJ

I have to share this email that I got from a friend. For me, it says it all. Forgive me if it's a little long, but I think it's worth sharing. President Bush did make a bad mistake in the war on terrorism. But the mistake was not his decision to go to war in Iraq. Bush's mistake came in his belief that this country is the same one his father fought for in WW II. It is not. Back then, they had just come out of a vicious depression. The country was steeled by the hardship of that depression, but they still believed fervently in this country. They knew that the people had elected their leaders, so it was the people's duty to back those leaders. Therefore, when the war broke out the people came together, rallied behind, and stuck with their leaders, whether they had voted for them or not or whether the war was going badly or not. And war was just as distasteful and the anguish just as great then as it is today. Often there were more casualties in one day in WW II than we have had in the entire Iraq war, but that did not matter. The people stuck with the President because it was their patriotic duty. Americans put aside their differences in WW II and worked together to win that war. Everyone from every strata of society, from young to old pitched in. Small children pulled little wagons around to gather scrap metal for the war effort. Grade school students saved their pennies to buy stamps for war bonds to help the effort. Men who were too old or medically 4F lied about their age or condition trying their best to join the military. Women doubled their work to keep things going at home. Harsh rationing of everything from gasoline to soap, to butter was imposed; yet there was very little complaining. You never heard prominent people on the radio belittling the President. Interestingly enough, in those days there were no fat cat actors and entertainers who ran off to visit and fawn over dictators of hostile countries and complain to them about our President. Instead, they made upbeat films and entertained our troops to help the troops' morale. And a bunch even enlisted. And imagine this: Teachers in schools actually started the day off with a Pledge of Allegiance, and with prayers for our country and our troops! Back then, no newspaper would have dared point out certain weak spots in our cities where bombs could be set off to cause the maximum damage. No newspaper would have dared complain about what we were doing to catch spies. A newspaper would have been laughed out of existence if it had complained that German or Japanese soldiers were being 'tortured' by being forced to wear women's underwear, or subjected to interrogation by a woman, or being scared by a dog, or did not have air conditioning. There were a lot of things different back then. We were not subjected to a constant bombardment of pornography, perversion and promiscuity in movies or on radio. We did not have legions of crackheads, dope pushers and armed gangs roaming our streets. No, President Bush did not make a mistake in his handling of terrorism. He made the mistake of believing that we still had the courage and fortitude of our fathers. He believed that this was still the country that our fathers fought so dearly to preserve. It is not the same country. It is now a cross between Sodom and Gomorra and the land of Oz. We did unite for a short while after 9/11, but our attitude changed when we found out that defending our country would require some sacrifices. We are in great danger. The terrorists are fanatic Muslims. They believe that it is okay, even their duty, to kill anyone who will not convert to Islam. It has been estimated that about one-third or over three hundred million Muslims are sympathetic to the terrorists cause...Hitler and Tojo combined did not have nearly that many potential recruits. So...we either win it - or lose it - and you ain't gonna like losing. America is not at war. The military is at war. America is at the mall. (AMEN AND AMEN!!)

Ok, Im still in the pre-op stages, and trying to figure out what exactly to expect with the diet, both pre-op and post op. I have had two seperate meetings with a dietician, and in both of those meetings, she has stressed low carb and high Protein. Nothing has been said about counting calories. However, I've noticed in a few of the spots that I've visited that alot of people are. Is this something that has to be done, or is it just something people do? I would think that with the limits on the diet that the lower calories should be pretty much be the norm, unless you're eating stuff you shouldn't be eating. Am I right, and is it just the carbs and Proteins I should really worry about? Thanks! CJ

You know, when I got into all of this, I never really thought about all the other "bad" things I was doing. I was worried about losing weight. That's what my goal is and has been since I made my first appointment about LB. Then, they told me I would have to give up my diet mountain dew, AND my cigarettes! Im like "yeah right, I might as well give up on this idea right now". Well, guess what? I gave up the dew, no problem, and believe me I was truely a "dew-aholic". 24/7 it was in my hand! Never really looked back on that, although I still have a bottle now and again, just cuz. Next, came smoking...... NEVER gonna happen! Well, I got the prescription for chantix, took me about a month to actually fill it.... cost over $100! And, I went back and forth on that before I did do it. Waited over a week before I actually started taking it. Still believed there was NO WAY it was going to happen. Oh, and let me add, I am 43, started smoking at about 15, so it's been awhile! It actually took me quite a while before I really "quit" smoking, but that was only because Im so fricking stubborn. I LIKE to smoke. I don't LIKE "having" to smoke. I LIKE to have a smoke when I want one. I don't LIKE feeling that I need one all the time. Anyway, I've quit. I don't believe it. If you'd have asked me six months ago, I'd have said no way. But, it's worked. Don't ask me how or why, but this Chantix stuff works. I took it for about a month, and haven't had it for about 2 weeks, and Im doing real well. I've probably in over 2 months smoked LESS than a pack, and in the last 2 weeks, I haven't smoked at all! Im now ready, I hope, to begin the last leg of this very long journey!:whoo::whoo::whoo::whoo::whoo::whoo::whoo::whoo::whoo::whoo::whoo::whoo:

I've been kinda wondering about this myself. I work 12 hour shifts also, shift work, and somedays hit the floor running and don't quit til it's time to go home. I have days where it's pretty relaxed, but if things need to be done, I need to be able to do them. I work in a power plant, and sometimes the work is VERY physical. Im hoping for 2 weeks to be enough time, although my company has unlimited payed sick time, Im hoping that is going to be enough.

I work as an Auxillary Operator in a large power plant. I have my chief engineers license, and will probably within the next 2 or 3 years be a control room operator at the same plant. We make all your electricity!

I've been going at it for about 5 or 6 months. Just today had my last appointment to confirm that I'm not crazy! They really had me wondering about that though! My insurance also covers the surgery, but they have many hoops to jump through and quite a few mazes that I must go through to, I guess, prove that I am willing and able to make the changes necessary. Good luck to you!

Im just wondering something. I just read in one of the threads that someones surgery lasted 4 hours. How about the rest of you, how long was everyones surgery?? Thanks! CJ

I don't even know where to begin. I have been going through all the pre-op tests and what ever. Just recently finished seeing the pshyciatrist, and jumping through all of those hoops. I waited for over a week for the hospital to contact me, and nothing. Finally I called them, and they said that the recomendation from the psychiatrist stated that I needed to see another head doctor to learn to deal with "issues". When I asked what they were, I was told that she said that I needed help with giving up junk food, pop and smoking. I haven't had pop in over 2 months and told her that, and as for junk food, I can take it or leave it Im not really into that. My only issue that I have is smoking which, I know, I have to give up 2 months before surgery. I admit that I haven't worked very hard on that aspect, but I am prepared for that and ready to do what I have to do. Im kinda pissed cuz the original shrink said nothing about seeing anyone else, and led me to believe that I was on my way. Now, I have to make another appointment with another doctor!!! GRRRR. I know that the insurance is going to require alot of proof about alot of things, it's just that I am so fricking tired of jumping through hoops and getting NO WHERE!

I have tried MORE than once to quit smoking. I've tried the patch a couple of times, but I am VERY allergic to that and break out everywhere I put a patch start running out of places. LOL. I absolutely can't stand the gum tastes like crap. And, I can't take Wellbutrin, I've had a seizure, and my Doc won't even let me near that. She did give me a script for Chantix, and I do hear wonderful things about it, one of the guys I work with used it and has done really well. I am gonna get that this week, if my paycheck allows. Am I just stupid or is it kinda dumb that my insurance will pay for all the treatments I may need due to the fact that I smoke, which could come to how many thousands of dollars, but they won't put out for a treatment that actually may help me quit? Hmmm, don't see any logic there. Insurance, can't live without it, can do a darn thing with it!

OOPs! sorry, hit the wrong button somewhere! Anyway, I don't think there is anyway I would EVER leave this area, although some days I wonder when it hits -30! My doc is from Deer River, Dr. Margo. Don't have a date yet, but hopefully soon!

Im from Grand Rapids, born and raised. I don't think I could EVER

I haven't been banded yet, either, but my doc has told me no way. I was a Diet Mountain Dew addict. It was with me everywhere. First thing in morning, last at night. I figured there was no way in heck I'd ever be able to give that up, but I did it cold turkey, and haven't had any side effects. As for smoking, well that's another story.......

Actually, my personal doc is VERY adamantly against it. She refuses to do the preop, and sent a letter to my surgeon stating her feelings.

My pre-op is 2 weeks liquid. Post op, Im on 2 weeks liquid, 2 weeks mushie, and 2 weeks soft. Pretty similar to you. Im not banded, and haven't got a date set yet. My doctor will be Dr. Margo, from Deer River, MN.

I am still in the pre-op stages of lapband. I have a question for all of you. I work in a VERY hot environment. The possibility of de-hydration is very real, especially during the summer months with the high temps of summer. I work 12 hour shifts, and am having trouble trying to figure out how to balance my meals with the very real necessity of making sure that I can get enough H2O in. I understand that drinking after meals for 1 1/2 hours is necessary to make sure Im not eating too much, but on the other hand, how do I make sure Im not getting de-hydrated? My meal times are not "scheduled", and if there is something to be done, I am expected to run and get it done. Making it all but impossible to go without drinking something, especially for that long of a period. Any suggestions??

Yes, it will be a little cooler. However, even on the cool days, it's well into the 100's where I work. And Im talking even on days when it's -30 outside!!! So, I've gotta figure out what to do about that.

Thanks, I think I'll need all the help I can get. I am pretty scared about this whole thing. I have a great friend up here to offer lots of support, but I just don't think it's the same as having someone who knows how everything feels to talk to, know what I mean? Anyway, I'll keep you posted. CJ

Hey there, Joanie, Im from Minnesota too. I didn't think there was anyone else from here. Up North, Grand Rapids. Im not banded yet, but seriously considering it. Actually, I have two more appointments, then I should get things scheduled and done. Sounds like my ins. company will approve it, so Im just waiting to get everything else done and I'll be ready! Welcome, and good luck! CJ

Thanks, everyone for your input. I will definately have to discuss this a little more with my surgeon and dietician. As of yet, I haven't got a date set. I have 2 more appointments with the shrink, so hoping for sometime in August, maybe early Sept.

I was told no liquids for 1/2 hour before I eat and not until 1 1/2 hours after I eat. There's no way, where I work, that I can go that long without something to drink. Right now, I do drink all day long, Im just wondering if that's gonna be ok, or what?

I work at a power plant and have a pretty labor intensive job. Im wondering about returning to work. I can get two weeks off pretty easily, will that be enough? Im hoping so, cuz I'd like to just do that and without much question from anyone at work. Im trying to keep this pretty much to myself. soooo.... what do ya think? Thanks! CJ