Telecia

It may be deceptive but you know what. I think it's worth it to keep from hurting family members feelings, because people do take it personally. Ever get bummed cause your dish you took to a dinner didnt get wiped out? We as people in general have based most of our lives around food, especially when celebrating. Seems like no matter how much you talk about things some people just wont *get it* cause they are to set in their ways or just don't want to change their opinions, every family seems to have those so why not do a tiny bit of deception help keep the peace. So when grandma (Or insert relative here) Says you should go try (Insert dish) I's go get a spoonfull of it and taste it at least. Most times they won't even notice if you had food left on your plate. they will noticed if you tried any in the first place.

Heck I haven't even been banded and I can already tell differences, Been a yea now this month since I joined this site and started research etc. It's been a year now that I have changed our diet (Not just me the whole family) And while its still and ongoing process there are several things I have noticed. Going out to eat. A whopper isnt nowhere near as good as I remembered it. To greasy, felt heavy and half nauseated and overall yucky for hours afterward, after eating a whopper. Same with a rally hamburger. OMG I used to eat so much grease!! My favorite chineese resturant is now not my favorite anymore!! The lovely BBQ rib meat I used to adore and sent my blood sugars up in the 500 range. Now tastes sickly sweet. the honey almond shrimp that used to be to die for just doesn't taste good. And I KNOW they haven't changed cooks.. I find asking my BF now for a bottle of Water instead of a fountain pop cause they always taste off now. So yea I can believe foods taste different now. Because your getting used to food now being good for you and not building your life around it. And your tastes have changed.

nice!! You can tell a difference keep up the good work.

Actually many people do not know what a *Normal* Portion is. Honestly. Up untill I started looking into the band I sure didn't know what normal was I just knew what normal to me was. Ever buy a tv dinner and think *OMG I Will need 2 of these to make a meal?!?" That little ball of potatoes, spoonfull of veggies and half a palm full of meat IS A NORMAL meal. At least thats what I have been taught in my diabetic and several nutrition classes Ive been to. 1/2 cup of mashed potatoes 1/2 cup cooked veggies. or 1 cup raw veggies. 4 ozs of meat. Most of us are so accustomed to the huge portions we can get in restaurants or at home that a normal meal looks impossibly small. but yea good for you! 1 burger is a good step. I know for me ive taken to sticking to less meat and way less carbs but more veggies to take up the bulk. Till such a time as I can get banded. I even bought smaller plates and ONLY make enough for one serving at the meal. Its hard when family members push food at you. My mother in law was one of these. Always had baked goods, Cookies, ice cream etc for the kids. And was always doing things like sending us home with loaves of fresh baked breads, pies, kids got huge homemade cakes on birthdays etc. We seem learn early in life to equate nurturing with pushing food and then wonder why we end up overweight.

Well if the doctor didnt specify a diet plan they would go back to old records and look it up. I guess they don't take into consideration that you might not be diabetic anymore since it seems to be strongly felt that once your diagnosed with diabetes you will always have it. Which we know isnt the case. You could ask your doctor to have it corrected in your records, with the reason that you don't want all the carbs. or next time you get admitted BEFORE the first meal ask to talk to one of the diaticians.

Being raised buy a hunter I was taught at age 11 how to handle and respct a gun. I am not affraid of them and I certainly respect and think that people do have certain rights to gun ownership. But the brutal honesty is no matter what, your going to have people who abuse them or simply don't respect them enough to understand what it really means to use one.There are a huge portion of people out there that don't take owning a gun seriously. And to many people getting hold of guns that really have no buisness owning them. I have to agree that Joe Horn should have responded differently. Heck it wasn't his house. He had already called the police and the 911 operator was telling him to stay put. He should of. But I can also possibly see where he was comming from he KNEW they had broke in next door and they came into his yard. Probably thinking he was next and at 62 there was no way he could have stood up to 2-30 something year old men without a gun. The article also said one started running towards him. But he shoulda stayed inside. Heck in a later article he admitted he shoulda stayed inside. But I am glad he didn't get convicted. There is a problem with "Why didn't he shoot em in the knees/legs etc." Because poor Joe Horn got in less trouble then if he would have simply wounded the thiefs. He might not have been questioned/jailed but you bet he would of paid. Probbly for the rest of his life. In our society today people seems to be eager to sue each other. There have been cases of OBVIOUS criminals with long records, caught in the act of breaking in/stealing then injured by the homeowner who have turned around and successfully sued the homeown and WON! Regarless of the fact they were breaking the law and admitting it in court O.o (Never figured that one out wouldnt the judge have to have you arrested for a crime you addmited to commiting in a courtroom?) btw a good site to look those up on is The TRUE Stella Awards -- Exposing Lawsuit Abuse with Real Cases hehe sorry gotta plug my favorite newsletter author. Now this in Indiana and I have no idea if the laws have changed since. In 1988 I had a girlfriend staying with me for a while. She had left her alcholic abusive husband. Who had just left her mothers house on his way to mine. So I called a neighbor of mine who is a state policeman and asked him what I should do. The guy was armed(shotgun) and extremly drunk. Her mom called cause she wanted us to leave and or warn us. The officer friend told me "Well till he actually shows up the only thing we can do is take a description of the car and pull him over for D.U.I. If he shows up here do NOT go outside the home. If he refuses to leave tell him youv'e called the police (And call) DO NOT under any circumstance open the door. If he kicks/breaks in the door or busts a window let him get inside!! Then shoot him! He even advised me it would be BETTER to shoot him comming in the door as the refrigerator (right next to the door) would make sure any bullets didnt make it into the neighborhood (hit someone else) My ex at the time had a 357 so exiting bullets was a major concern in a 60's type trailer with 2 inch walls!! But to be carefull NOT to shoot him outside and to make sure if I had to shoot to not just wound him. I was taken aback at this advice cause I had always assumed a police officer would tell you to avoid getting in that situation to begin with. But he was clear and adiment that If I had to shoot the guy I HAD to do more then just hurt him or else we could suffer. Thankfully the jerk got caught before he made it to my house. So it was all moot. But I learned allot. And got an added assult of a police officer on top of the D.U.I and got to spend a few months in jail. I guess my point is no matter how detailed they make laws & guidlines every situation is individual. Thats why they allow such broad interpretations by judges. I would have hated to see a man like Joe spend the rest of his life in jail. For shooting a couple of criminal thugs, who's idea of making money was stealing from others.

I would think that any doctor that required you to be on liquids for long before the surgery wouldnt require one. Just being on liquids alone will clean you out pretty good. lol But thats another one of those things some require some dont.

Ive seen other threads from lactose intollerent people who mentioned soy based protien suppliments. Look for ones that are soy based instead of whey. I can't find the thread now but they are out there.

well its good to see places adressing the problems but gastric bypass. EWWWWWW.. I would love it if my 15 year old daughter would even try weightloss and I would overjoyed for her to get the band. Shes like 230 lbs at 5'7 But GB no way. I would only allow any of my kids to do that if a band had already failed for them. But thats me I have personal issues w ith bypaass watching family members suffer malnutrition & hair & teeth loss from it. But I wish there was more attention on our kids diets besides avoiding sweets. Cause that isnt her problem, shes a carb junkie, rameen 4-5 times a day plus the dinner I make. I don't buy sweets/chips etc. never really have only the occasional treats

Well I made it through my first day as a NON Smoker. Actually yesterday was pretty easy its this morning that is rough. LOL. My normal morning routine is a huge 32oz mug of coffee and of course a few cigarettes. I got sugar free gum, mints, cough drops, and a jar of menthol rub to inhale from to help with the menthol part of my addiction. So far sitting here drinking coffee and sitting in bed gaming with marv has been my 2 times that I really start feeling it. Other things, one tire on the van has had a really slow leak in it. He's taken it back and they can't find the leak so we have just been living with it for now. Keeping an eye on it and keeping it full. Well it went flat on him last night. And of course today being the 4th NOONE is open. LOL My SIL was telling me last night that at the new casino next door (the horse park recently opened a 24 hour casino) to us they are having a FREE concert tonight. One of my childhood idols is gonna be performing and I can't Go!! *crys* If I'd had enough warning to make the half hour drive to the nearest place to rent a wheelchair I coulda gone. So I guesss It's opening my patio door and hoping the sound carries enough. Anyhow its Davy Jones from the Monkees. I adored their show growing up I was a religious watcher. To bad its not all 4 or I would go somehow. Even if i had to crawl lol!! lol Ahh well there going to have a big fireworks show too. So at least jay wont have to miss seeing any because Marv has to work. The park is close enough we will have a great view of any of the fireworks from the sidewalk just out front of the apartment. Man in just the few minutes I have been sitting here since I got up 35 or so) I have started to reach for my missing cig pack 7 or 8 times unconciously lol..All the ashtrays went into the dishwasher last night. I Put my case, lighter etc up out of sight. And since I rolled my own I took the plastic tuperwear containerI used to hold it all in the dishwasher also and put my roller thingy & tamper away. threw away all the empty tubes I had too. So even if I am tempted to cheat i can't cause there isn't anything here to cheat with. lol My daughters not home either so I can't bum one off her. Shes gonna have to clean up her room too now. Gotta get carpet powder or rent a cleaner to help get the smells out. But I am doing it!!!

Well I made it through my first day as a NON Smoker. Actually yesterday was pretty easy its this morning that is rough. LOL. My normal morning routine is a huge 32oz mug of coffee and of course a few cigarettes. I got sugar free gum, mints, cough drops, and a jar of menthol rub to inhale from to help with the menthol part of my addiction. So far sitting here drinking coffee and sitting in bed gaming with marv has been my 2 times that I really start feeling it. Other things, one tire on the van has had a really slow leak in it. He's taken it back and they can't find the leak so we have just been living with it for now. Keeping an eye on it and keeping it full. Well it went flat on him last night. And of course today being the 4th NOONE is open. LOL My SIL was telling me last night that at the new casino next door (the horse park recently opened a 24 hour casino) to us they are having a FREE concert tonight. One of my childhood idols is gonna be performing and I can't Go!! *crys* If I'd had enough warning to make the half hour drive to the nearest place to rent a wheelchair I coulda gone. So I guesss It's opening my patio door and hoping the sound carries enough. Anyhow its Davy Jones from the Monkees. I adored their show growing up I was a religious watcher. To bad its not all 4 or I would go somehow. Even if i had to crawl lol!! lol Ahh well there going to have a big fireworks show too. So at least jay wont have to miss seeing any because Marv has to work. The park is close enough we will have a great view of any of the fireworks from the sidewalk just out front of the apartment. Man in just the few minutes I have been sitting here since I got up 35 or so) I have started to reach for my missing cig pack 7 or 8 times unconciously lol..All the ashtrays went into the dishwasher last night. I Put my case, lighter etc up out of sight. And since I rolled my own I took the plastic tuperwear containerI used to hold it all in the dishwasher also and put my roller thingy & tamper away. threw away all the empty tubes I had too. So even if I am tempted to cheat i can't cause there isn't anything here to cheat with. lol My daughters not home either so I can't bum one off her. Shes gonna have to clean up her room too now. Gotta get carpet powder or rent a cleaner to help get the smells out. But I am doing it!!!

Crunchy knees and one hip!! 2 years ago I lost a good 5-60 lbs and the crunchy feeling subsided allot. Then my BF started bying me the Osteo Bi Flex suppliment and the crunchyness is gone in my knees. It takes months to do it though. The hip still does it sometimes but not near as often and its not as painfull as it once was. When I was at my last doctor appointment (new doc) he was telling me he was stopping my antiinflamitory(NASIDS) and muscle relaxers and to start taking Glucosamine instead!!(Main ingredient in osteo bi flex!) LOL. And was pleased that I was already on it. He said that it was the best thing to do to prevent knee replacements or to aid in the recovery from them. Now If I can get my band and lose more I pray the crunchyness will leave my hip too!! But will have to see.

It IS considered ELECTIVE surgery. So many doctors & insurances have stricter guidlines on it. Unlike a surgery that you might HAVE to have where they can't afford to play with your life to wait till your healthier. While I cannot see where smoking can have any effect on the band whatsoever IT CAN have an effect on how fast you heal, or the % that YOU MIGHT have complications. Cause there are very well documented facts that come with smoking that CAN be of concern to the surgeon. Smoking can reduce healing. Nicotine causes the blood vessels to constrict, retarding blood flow to the body. This can also cause the raising of blood pressure too. The build up of the tar and everything else in a smokers lungs often means we dont have the same lung compacity that a non smoker has. Therefore after surgery complication of pnumonia can be higher. Fluid buildup in the lungs after surgery is a COMMON problem that they normallly address after every surgery for smoker and non smoker alike. This build up can also cause a smokers lungs to not be able to utilize the oxygen as well lowing the % Of oxygen in the blood stream which again retards/slows healing. I am a 29 year hard & heavy smoker. And yea I have had nunmerous procedures in the past that smoking hasn't hurt. But I probably didn't recover as quickly as I could have. But I have decided that living past the age of 40 is something I am now going to strive for. So one of the things to go is smoking. I know it's gonna be a challange. And it won't be easy. But dangit my health is worth it. Any day now I gotta go pick my first batch of Patches (Ins wont cover chantix, Waiting on the dr to call em in to pharmacy) And start on that adventure. While not all surgons will insist you stop smoking, many of them will. And honestly they have good reason to. While I know that many like to place the blame on 90% of health problems on smoking they do have some valid reasons for doing so. It all boils down to the fact that smoking does nothing good for our bodies, and if your serious enough to consider surgery for weight loss for your health continuing smoking just don't make alot of sense(at least not to me). Why do something so drastic as elective surgery to improve one area and then refuse to continue to keep improving your health?

I know how bored eating is also. Something I have been working hard to put a stop to. What helps me is not buying the junk in the first place. If its sitting there in your cabnit/drawer/shelf your way more tempted.. Now if I could only get my BF to NOT bring junk home too. lol The ONLY snacky type foods I have in the house now is the kids Breakfast cereals (All NON sugary) and microwave popcorn. lol. And making sure I have healthier alternatives onhand for when I get the urge to snack. Anymore I keep raw broccoli, caulliflower, 2 differnt types of apples, was buying pears & bannanas too but the doc said no to them cause of my diabetes. Those bags of precut salad mixes are great for a light meal with sugar/FF dressing. Carrots & celery. If I do snack its either fruit or a store brand Cereal thats like frosted mini wheats but have no frosting. Or chex cereals. Also find things to stay occupied! I don't get bored if I have something to do. A hobby, books, find more great boards like this. Anything to do to keep you occupied will help. Bi weekly trips to the library, I also love to do word search puzzles, have 3-4 different hobbies I do occasional also. The hobbies part wasnt a problem for me cause I have always been one of those people who have to be doing something. I can't just sit around and watch tv or I go nuts. Start making the changes now. Slowly if you need to. But you'll be amazed at how soon it will be that you get used to it.

Probably a bit of overdoing it and the stomach bug both. but calling the doc is a good thing too let us know what he/she says

Well I finally managed to get in and see my cardiologist and boy am I NOT happy. Why? Abnonrmal ECG he didn't exactly say what was abnormal about it but he now wants a heart cath done. BUT there are problems with that. Because of my large belly they can't go in through the groin, (BUT he did say something about the possibility of having my belly removed? Have to see where that goes) So they will go in under the arm. We sat for a extra hour while the nurses played phone & fax tag. Since I had M.R.S.A before they wanted to get ahold of the records from 2002 saying I was cleared from it. But that wasn't possible. So tomorow I have to go and get a nasal swab done to be sure. Only when that comes back can they actually schedual the heart cath. Since its a culture test it will be 72 hours before they get back anything. The doc wants more testing but he says at my size most of the tests can't tell him much. One of the reasons he said something about getting my large stomach removed. He was pleased that I want to get the band and mentioned possibly having both done at the same time. But he had to see just what was goin on with my heart first. Also durring the cath they will be doing some imaginging. I also start the patch for quitting smooking too soon so life sounds like its gonna be a trip for a bit next week. Gotta take a 30-45 minute drive to the center where they want to do the cath at. I REALLY hate driving into Indianapolis. Seems the older I get the more nervious I get riding in the car, interstate/city driving utterly freaks me out anymore. FINALLY got a accurate weight though. 6-months ago I was 440 today was 424. So there has been some loss. Just not as much as I would have liked. But I now also know of place I can go to get weighed durring daytime office hours if I need to, another office in the cardiologist building has a full blown wheelchair type scale. Dad is in the hosptial atm we have the same cardio doc. Hes gonna have a cath also and possible stent replacement. In the morning. He started having chest pain last night. He is 82 now and had several caths. Doc was trying to warn me that dad is increasingly more negative and vocalized to him that he was ready to be done with life. I told the doc yea I knew he had started talking like that 2+ years ago right before they had to put him in the nursing home. At the time we were living with him but he refused to follow his doctors orders and refused to let me help him with much. He was already talking like that then. So for really close family this is nothing new. But I could tell the doc was spooked by it. He really does care about his patients. So thats it. I now have 2 docs that care (FINALLY) And want to help me improve my health so only good can come from that.

Well I finally managed to get in and see my cardiologist and boy am I NOT happy. Why? Abnonrmal ECG he didn't exactly say what was abnormal about it but he now wants a heart cath done. BUT there are problems with that. Because of my large belly they can't go in through the groin, (BUT he did say something about the possibility of having my belly removed? Have to see where that goes) So they will go in under the arm. We sat for a extra hour while the nurses played phone & fax tag. Since I had M.R.S.A before they wanted to get ahold of the records from 2002 saying I was cleared from it. But that wasn't possible. So tomorow I have to go and get a nasal swab done to be sure. Only when that comes back can they actually schedual the heart cath. Since its a culture test it will be 72 hours before they get back anything. The doc wants more testing but he says at my size most of the tests can't tell him much. One of the reasons he said something about getting my large stomach removed. He was pleased that I want to get the band and mentioned possibly having both done at the same time. But he had to see just what was goin on with my heart first. Also durring the cath they will be doing some imaginging. I also start the patch for quitting smooking too soon so life sounds like its gonna be a trip for a bit next week. Gotta take a 30-45 minute drive to the center where they want to do the cath at. I REALLY hate driving into Indianapolis. Seems the older I get the more nervious I get riding in the car, interstate/city driving utterly freaks me out anymore. FINALLY got a accurate weight though. 6-months ago I was 440 today was 424. So there has been some loss. Just not as much as I would have liked. But I now also know of place I can go to get weighed durring daytime office hours if I need to, another office in the cardiologist building has a full blown wheelchair type scale. Dad is in the hosptial atm we have the same cardio doc. Hes gonna have a cath also and possible stent replacement. In the morning. He started having chest pain last night. He is 82 now and had several caths. Doc was trying to warn me that dad is increasingly more negative and vocalized to him that he was ready to be done with life. I told the doc yea I knew he had started talking like that 2+ years ago right before they had to put him in the nursing home. At the time we were living with him but he refused to follow his doctors orders and refused to let me help him with much. He was already talking like that then. So for really close family this is nothing new. But I could tell the doc was spooked by it. He really does care about his patients. So thats it. I now have 2 docs that care (FINALLY) And want to help me improve my health so only good can come from that.

I certainly think that it should be available to anyone. Regardless of weight. Why? Why shuld someone have to wait till they reach 100+ lbs. If they have a signifigant enough dieting history that shows they have dieted in the past and can't keep it off then more power to them to prevent them from getting morbidly obese in the first place. Heck this is one thing I have real trouble with in the USA healthcare system. Waiting till there are actual problems to treat people who already have problems in certain areas. If someone has a family history of co-morbids or weight problems, And they struggle trying to lose or stay at a so called *Normal weight* why not? Since the band has the LEAST complications of all WLS it should be a good *Preventive* I wish my BF could get a band. Why? He & I both have real issues with portions. He has recently been put on insulin for his diabetes cause he can't get his numbers under control. Why can't he? Simple he eats to much. And the wrong kinds of foods. And while I am slowly replacing most carbs with better options. It's really hard and EXPENSIVE to do so. Realizing just how much we do eat has been an eye opener. I never really realized before all this just what a *Normal* portion is. I don't think anytime in my entire 40 years have I ever had a *Normal* portioned meal since perhaps the age of 5 and under. Also If you look at him. He doesn't appear much overweight. ALL of his weight is in his torso. He has nice trim sexy arms & legs with decent muscle definition, and just a tiny bit of overhang with his belly (Muffin top i guess its called) But according to the charts hes *morbidly obese* I swear if he lost 100 lbs I don't know where it would come from!! But portion control is something he could benifit from greatly. I wish I had learned what i know about the band 20 years ago. I would have found a way to pay for it then. To prevent from getting to the size I am now.

Please don't dismiss the sleep apnea tests as not being needed. MOST people who have apnea don't realize it. Snoring and getting up to go to the bathroom at night are some of the symptoms. I assumed my sleepyness & constant bathroom runs at the time was due to my pregnancy boy was I wrong! I can say from experience from using a CPAP now for 13 years. It is really RARE now that I wake up just to go to the bathroom. Where before I was up 3-6 times a night. Have the test so you know for sure if you do or don't have it. As for the nurse trying to tell you about pregnancy. She's not a OB/GYN and shouldnt be giving advice like she is one. By all means call the psych about your concerns. Even if you do decide to try a program elsewhere. Cause even if they turn out to not be the right center for you they can't improve if they don't know where the problems are.

Sounds like my old doc. There were more reasons then just weight loss surgery though that I found another doctor and I so far am not regretting it. Don't know that the new one will one approve surgery either yet. But in the last month I have been very impressed with his office and him. So for the rest of my medical problems its been a good thing I changed doctors. Will have to see about the band though. Don't wait a year to try and convince your current doctor like I did. Bring it up again with them and if they still claim its the *easy way out* go find you another one. Cause losing with the band s NOT Easy. It's still allot of work.

If you have cable you really should check out the national geographic channel. For a show called the dog whisperer. Not only does he tell people how to solve behaviors like jumping he explains why dogs do it in the first place.

Well first you just had surgery, and any major trauma to the body can cause mood swings look at what many women go through with childbirth & delivery post partum depression and such after any surgery/trauma is common. And to top it off your probably losing weight on top of it so its a double whammy. lol. I haven't gotten banded yet but I know after the birth of my youngest I had some of the most horrible mood swings I have ever had in my life. I had to be medicated they got so bad. I was losing weight cause I had just been diagnosed the day before his birth with sleep apnea & got the machine the day of his birth. Recovering from a c-section, suddenly cause of the apnea treatment I felt a thousand times better so I was up and moving around way more then I did before he was born. I lost 70 pounds in the first 3 months after he was born. But the mood swings were vicious. Doc said it was because of so many things happening to my body at once. I now looking back honestly do not how my family dealt with it. It was bad we were staying with my (now ex) husbands family at the time. One moment I was smiles and giggles the next throwing stuff across the room. lol But it will even out.

You might want to check with your family doctor to make sure its not a UTI. but yes when your losing weight at a rapid pace your body smells and breath will change. Also since right now your on mostly liquids your body can also be flushing out more too. Long as you rule out a bladder infection and keep your Fluid intake good. Treat yourself to a nice new bodywash/spray/lotion set will help. Also eating to much of one thing like garlic & certain meds can affect your body smells too. oh my gosh my son in high school went through a spell where he ate garlic on everything (powdered, crushed and fresh) and no matter how often he showerd/brushed his teeth he stunk. Just like garlic. Had to hide it from him and it took a week for him to get back to normal. lol

Reminds me of when I was younger we would go park near the International airport (On top of a parking garage) And watch and listen to the planes. At night the garage was mostly empty! Growing up we lived in a very small farming town near a base and used to watch the jets do manuvers often!! Lots of times they would practice at night dropping flares and such. Was such a fun things for us kids to watch. Many times we would hear the jets coming long before they could be seen and we would run to the road (No trees) to watch them fly over.

Docs prefer to push the gastric bypass cause once your cleared after surgery and they release you. Thats it. They get their 15-25 grand and move on to the next paitent. Bypass costs more then the band. and has the least amount of aftercare. With the band your going to go back to your surgeon for fills/unfills probably for life unless you move/change doctors. Plus chances are after 5-10 years youll stop losing (if you don't change your habits drasticly) and regain weight once again meaning you will most likely try a revision surgery which means MORE money in his/her pocket. I have several family (5) members who have bypasses. I REFUSE to do the same to myself. NONE of them have gotten to goal weight, MOST have started regaining. And 2 have serious stomach & malnutrition problems. None were told they needed to relearn their eating habits, All keep eating junk/fast food/high sugar & carb foods. (not saying it isnt possible to be succesfull, but its not a magic pill) The one person who has done the best with a bypass (lost but some but never hit goal) now wants to get a band but is 9 months pregnant now and had to put that off for now. But shes curious about it now that I told her I wanted to do it. And we discussed it at length. Good for you with sticking to your decision