ShelbiCallie

Wow! So much news on this thread -- it's hard to keep up with everyone. First of all, thanks for the soft food tips my friends! Second of all, Dynamo, I'm sending positive vibes to you on this audit day. Go get 'em , girl! Mal -- AKA Super Mom -- Thanks for your helpful info. I working on slowing down, but geeze -- after gulping for 46 years, I'm having a time. I've scheduled my first fill for Oct 29 and I hope that will help. Girlygurl -- how are you doing? Littleroo -- congratulations on your daughter! So cool!!!! Biggest Loser -- Down 30 pounds!! Way to go!:clap2: Sheesa -- how are you feeling? I hope you're spared the morning sickness. (Where's the darn vomiting smiley when you need him?) Tina -- congrats on your first fill! I like Natalie, too --I met her when I was in CO and she called me last week to check in. What a sweetie! Did you see her "before" pictures? She's one of Dr. K's first bands and has lost 90+ pounds, I think. Woofay -- whoever hires you will be very fortunate to get you!! The studio sounds like much, much fun, but I bet you've got a real gift with the geriatric population and they need good professionals like you. I agree with Want2B -- it's getting the kids in order while you're working that's the most stressful. No doubt. I'm working my first full time job in 16 years, my kids 10 and 16 and I still struggle. Marcy --I love to hear about your life in Nome. Can you see the Northern Lights? It's all so "Northern Exposure" kind of cool. Lap Dancer -- How are you? I need some OA thoughts, please. No pressure, though. :mad: Hope you are well! Drews -- My hubby has loved derby women since the '70s. So, for his benefit, are you a jammer or a blocker? (I think those are the terms he used.) Skyeblu -- I'm going to the fill doc in Denver, NC (Denver, NC..Denver, CO -- coincidence? I think not) -- the Dr. uses the hospital's fluroscopy. The follow up doc that I had selected prior to surgery (at Wake Forest in Winston-Salem) insisted that I have an EGD done to check band placement prior to starting my aftercare to the tune of about $3k, even after I told him that I have no lap band-related coverage. Geeze! He wanted to check on the band's placement, even after Dr. K sent his operative notes and sent him a letter of referral! I told him for that $ I can travel back to CO to my surgeon many times. Geeze again! So, I've changed my plans and I'm going to the NC fill center doc. Are you still traveling to GA for fills? If I've overlooked anyone, please know that I'm thinking of you all and wishing you safe, peaceful journeys this week. Karen

Morning all! I'm 13 days out now, on soft foods, have questions and since I have to wait a couple more hours until Dr. K's office opens, I thought I'd ask here in case someone can help. I've copied below what Paula gave me for week 2 (and this was all I got for week 2) Week 2 – Soft Food Diet · Progression from full liquids to soft foods. o Examples of soft foods: yogurt, soft cheeses, blended meats, and well cooked stews and casseroles. · Tip: o Eat these foods slowly; about ten minutes per ounce of food. My questions: Am I still drinking a protein shake between meals? How much am I supposed to to eat at each meal? Anyone have any tips that have help them to eat slowly? Thanks and have a great Tuesday!

Mal -- I want to come live at your house. Sounds like you are "the fun mom". You know, the cool mom and everyone wants to hang at your house. There's always one kid in every group who has the coolest mom, and it sounds like your son lucked out!! By the way, I like the red highlights in your hair -- looks nice in the photos! I LOVED the mountains and trees-- gorgeous -- I am such a dork, though. I thought all of CO looked like that. I was very surprised as we were landing at the Denver Airport that everything looked brown and there were no trees . I expected a John Denver song. I've always heard of the Mile High City and I anticipated being IN the mountains. Yes, I am a certified dork. Denver reminded me of Tucson without the cactus. (But a BIGGER city with mountains in the distance, sort of.) But I absolutely loved the huge sky! I'm a sucker for sunsets. That's a wonderful way to honor you mom's memory. I am sure you make her very proud.

Congratulations, shesha!!!

Hi CO Crazy, I'm glad you shared your feelings. Sometimes getting things out in open helps get them resolved quicker. My take on the Dr. K first appointment is that since I had already met him on the phone, I felt like I already knew him. I did introduce myself to Brooke, his surgical assistant, who was with him during the first face-to-face appointment, since she/I had never met. If you take a look at Lap Band Surgery in Denver Colorado | Lap Band Surgeon in Denver | Gastric Band Surgery Denver | Bariatric Surgery again, you'll see that Dr. K does accept insurance, but his office doesn't file for you. If he had to hire office staff to deal with the contracts/phone calls/games that rear their ugly heads during the insurance process, then his cost would go up. And folks like me couldn't afford a lap band. I hope that I wasn't the one who encouraged him to start telling the "who gets what $" part of the plan . I asked him so many questions about it (I'm a nurse who works in managed care-- can't help it.) that he's probably made it a part of the initial consult. Keep asking questions and searching until you find the right surgeon for YOU. It is so important to have confidence in your care providers! And since WLS is big business, you also need to be mindful of the many lap band practices who have hired pimps (for lack of a better word) to troll these internet boards solicting cusomters by praising or discrediting others. Unfortunately, health care is big business in this country (but you don't want me to get up on that soap box, believe me:speechles ) Happy Friday, my friends! I've enjoyed the photos and updates -- work is crazy, so hopefully I can update on my status this weekend.

Good Morning ya'll. Wanted to pop in and let you know that I'm still around. Moved on up to full liquids and feeling good. I don't have a scanner, but hopefully I'll get to Walgreen's today and have them put my band picture on CD and then I can post it here. Tina -- I'm green on this whole proccess, but what you're describing sounds like other things I've read about PB. Are you still on soft food or are you on solids? Maybe the thread's vets can help us both out here. LSzeliga -- Welcome and sorry I can't help you out with the Cartier number; we rented a car. Anita -- WOW!!!! The transformation is amazing and your hair is beautiful!! Dynamo -- If I were a betting woman, my money would be on YOU as opposed to the IRS. I think you're a force to be reckoned with! Lap -- I'm glad to see you back with your daily thoughts. Loved the story of the Cherokee. So true, so true. Mal & Marcy -- thanks so much for the Yurt education. I had no idea! But I want one; sounds like so much fun. Has anyone heard from Gurly Girl???? We talked on the phone while in CO and she was having so many problems with post op nausea that Dr. K thought she was having a reaction to the hydrocodone liquid. I'm worried about her....... Want2B -- Did Dr. K say anything to you about when we could start exercising? I walked about 1/2 of the block yesterday and wanted to ride my exercise bike for a few minutes today -- I'm feeling good and not lifting anything, but I never asked him and there wasn't anything on my discharge instructions... Have a great Monday everyone!

:update: Greetings from a newly-banded woman! :whoo: I am back home in NC after a 3-day whirlwind tour of Aurora/Parker and am sporting my incisions with pride. Very little pain, no nausea, keeping liquids in, moving around alot -- I'm feeling good! Gurlygirl, how are you doing??? The pictures on the board are wonderful!!! Thanks!! Sunsets are my favorite. I had Dr. K make some pictures of my band and as soon as I can figure it out, I'll post them here. They are so cool! More later, friends. Karen

Hi ho, hi ho it's off to CO I go! Tomorrow is travel day! After I drop the boys off at school and Barkley at the kennel, we're heading to the airport. Flight leaves at 10 in the morning. Yippee!! I feel like I'm supposed to be signing John Denver songs or something... you know, rocky mountain high and all that. I'll check in with you when I get to the hotel. Karen

Stephanie, congratulations on your weight loss!!:whoo: I'm glad to hear that your husband had such great care from Dr. K. Thanks for your reassuring words. I chose Dr. K after researching surgeons (for months) in NC, GA, FL and abroad and having an in-person consultation with one and a phone consultation with another -- I'm very confident in Dr. K's surgical skills and everything I read here just reinforces that belief! I've had some lapses, over the last few days, about my decision to invest $$ in myself when I have children to consider first, but then, with the help of the wonderful support here, I am getting over my fear, guilt, etc and realizing that this is a positive choice no matter how I look at it! Life can only get better and I can't wait to get my band placed now!(installed?, put in?, applied? -- what the heck is the right word here?):confused:

"If we can truly grasp that our life, and quality of life, truly depends on this surgery, as would surgery for a physical hole in our heart~ we can only then stomp out the doubt and guilt. In a psychological sense, we are having the hole in our heart repaired, and it IS a necessary choice to make." That is such a powerful passage right there! I've been carrying my pounds of doubt and the guilt until I am smothering underneath it all. You're so on point with this. This is life saving for me, for all of us, and life is only going to get better and better. Thank you, thank you for your insights, Kelly. Mare! I remember now about your asking to leave during pre-op. I am so proud that you are now south of 200! You are doing it; I can't wait to be there! Have a wonderful rest of the weekend friends! This time next week I'll be back here writing to you with my new band aboard and working on my health. I am so fortunate to have found this board of wonderful, supportive people!

"just like one or two warm days does not make it summer, one or two lapses won't make me a failure." Tina -- thank you for my new mantra and for reminding me of the potential tax break!! I had forgotten -- yippee!! Hey, do I get to count my travel expenses for medical treatment when I itemize as well?? Thanks for helping me put this all in perspective, Tina. You are so right. This is a tool and the success is up to me. I went and looked at the before/after thread and am feeling SO much better. Thanks guys! You are the best.

Gurlygirl, I think we were posting at the same time! I am so glad I'm not alone with these feelings and they have seemed to come over the last 2 days out of nowhere! When I think that I'll be flying Denver this week for a freaking lap band, the first thought has been WOMAN, HAVE YOU LOST YOUR FREAKING MIND! I think it's my fat girl inside not wanting to let go, too, like you said. Fear of change perhaps? But I am deep breathing and thinking about a beautiful new life after a CO vacation.... I'll be flying in on Tuesday for my late afternoon pre-op appointment, having surgery on Wenesday at Crown Point and staying at the Holiday Inn Select. I'm flying home on Thursday I would love it if we could make a connection somewhere!!! That would be awesome!

Woofay & Littleroo ~~ thank you so much for saying what I needed to hear. I don't know what's gotten in to me these last 2 days, but I'm trying really hard to rally and starting to feel better. Your encouragement helps so much!!!!!!!!!! That negative self-talk of mine has been popping up in my brain and I'm doing my best to keep it at bay; I'm trying to focus on getting healthy and enjoying beautiful CO! I'm focusing on looking at next week as the start of my new life. It is only money, after all and You're so right -- I can't put a price tag on my health! You women rock!!

"Lapevangelist" - Want2B, you crack me up!! Tina & Want2B -- Thanks for sharing your post op adventures, I am hanging onto every word. I am so fearful that I will fail at this and it will end up being yet another time when I have thrown money away as I have before on diets, memberships, supplements, equipment, books, yadda yadda yadda. Oh my god. I have put myself in quite the situation to pay for this band. Not too many spare pennies left over to rub together. Now the self doubt is rearing its ugly head again and I keep hearing those voices saying "this is just one of those scams to take fat people's money:heh: and you are falling for it AGAIN". (Well, not actually HEARING voices, but you get the drift. ) I went back and read some of the pre-op postings that you guys have made and I know that it's normal to have the jitters and second guess yourself, but is there anyone here who regrets having the band and wishes they still had the $10K in the bank?:help: Next year this time, I want to be living a healthy life and not battling with food, as I've done my whole life. And I'm going to be so pissed at myself if that is the case. I don't know why this is happening to me now. I have been so psyched about the band since I started researching months and months ago. Please somebody write that this is the best decision you've ever made. Even if you've said it before on here, I need to hear it. Sorry for being such a baby. By the way, my in-real-life name is Karen. Shebli and Callie are my cats and Barkley is my dog (me bestest friend). Why I need to tell you this now I have no idea.

5 days to go and I'm starting to have a small freak-out. Somebody please reassure me. I am spending $9950 + travel, so this has GOT to work. Will I still be hungry?? If I'm going to have to fight hunger after I get the band in the same way that I have been before, then why am I putting myself through this!!! I want to get something for my investment and trouble. Please tell me you aren't hungry. Please.

Hey want2B - the movement and gravity associated with walking will help the CO2 find its way into your digestive track and you'll be fartin' like a big dog in no time. I agree fully with Marcy -- walk, sister, walk -- even if it's just around the house. Get moving and keep moving-- it helps with circulation, aids digestion, decreases risk of pneumonia/constipation/clots, helps with pain from trapped gas. It's the best thing you can do for yourself post-operatively. (Taking off my nursing cap, putting on my scared patient cap.) Happy Thursday, folks! Next week this time, I'll be with the BAND!! It'sa gonna happen, peeps! Great reference list, Marcy, thanks!

Ladies, you look marvelous! So nice to see all of your smiling faces again . I look forward to these photos every month. I noticed you are all drinking your healthy lemon water! :clap2: Thanks again for sharing! One week from today = my turn. Yowza!

Congratulations to Want2 Be! You did it! Glad to hear you're up and about!:whoo::clap2::confused:

This is a drive-by post with more to come later. I just had to respond quick when I saw Michelle's post, Dynamo, You are an amazing, beautiful, creative, strong, funny, caring woman. Totally his loss!!!! He will realize this once you have moved on. Men are slow like that sometimes. NEXT! Ya'll have a blast at RR tonight! Can't wait to see the photos!!

"grits with butter, salt and pepper and I feel renewed..." AMEN!!! to that. I so glad your spirits are back up, Tina! Grits are good for the soul. I can hardly wait until I get to full liquids -- and I'm still pre-op! Woofay -- Good luck tomorrow; you are in the best of hands, of course, you already know! Want2B -- Good luck on Tuesday; please give us an update as soon as you feel up to it!

Good Morning Everyone!! Welcome, Rosey! I know you'll have a great time at Red Robin with the others. I wish I could make it at some point. I'm convinced that support is the key to success. :love:Marcy -- that is so romantic!!!!:love: And a new diamond,too!! Want2B -- I think the carb count is a total of everything, including meats and vegetables. Paula didn't specifically mention Atkins to me, so I don't know if it's the induction phase or the next phase, but I've found some of the Atkins links and put them below. Dr. K told me no pasta, potatoes, bread -- "not so much as a cracker". Since the liver shrinkage is the goal here to prevent surgical complications, I think the key is just to lose some weight pre-op because the first place a reduction shows up is in the liver. Atkins - The Rules of Induction Atkins - How to Follow Phase Two, Part 1 Lap-dancer I'm missing your daily thoughts. Hope you're ok. Dynamo "Raw Sewage and the IRS" - sounds like a country song. Soon this will all be behind you and you'll never have another audit again. I am out of time now, but am sending healing vibes to the newly banded and courage vibes to those who are waiting. Everyone have a great week! I can't wait to see the pictures from the Red Robin meet up!

:biggrin1: Yay, LittleRoo!!!!! It's great to hear that you're doing so we11! Ok, Tina, let's hear form you now!

Want2Be -- I don't know what your profession is, but I really believe you could write for a living (if you don't already). You have a gift with words, at least this non-writer thinks so! I hope you're keeping a blog/journal or maybe thinking about submitting something about this journey to a publication. About the pre-op diet: Dr. K told me no sugar, potatoes, bread or pasta. In other words, nothing white. ( I learned the same from the women here.) Paula told me protein and veggies only. I immediately questioned Paula about the lack of fruit to which she replied, well maybe one fruit occasionally. (In my brain that means one per day -- I do love me some fruit:kiss ) About the fear of not waking up from the anesthesia -- Yep, me too. I told Dr. K that there was nothing in the world that was more important to me than getting back to NC to my boys and I will tell the anesthesiologist that too as soon as I meet him/her. Happy, positive, peaceful day to all my fellow travelers wherever you find yourself on the journey today!

Mare!!!!!20 pounds!!!! You go girl!!!! That's great!!!! Taynuh & Littleroo -- will be thinking about you tommorrow! Please post as soon as you can and let us know how you are! Lap dancer -- gorgeous photos. That sunset takes my breath away! (I'm getting alittle manic with the exclamation points, so I better stop here.)

Jennifer--- I am sorry about your grandfather's passing. I am sure that you brought joy to his life and I know that your grandmother is especially appreciative now to have you. I'll be at the Crown Point on 9/19 for surgery and have my pre-op appointment late afternoon on the 18th. Maybe we'll cross paths in Dr. K's office!!! Want2B --- I think it's very normal to be having doubts. At least I hope it is because I'm having some, too. But I am taking getting so much strength from the successes of the women here. We are going to be successful with the lap band. I feel it in my bones! I have been very protective of my decision to do this procedure and almost ending up telling my sister and father last night. I am so glad that I didn't, because the negativity would have started and I know that I would have ended up probably not having the surgery. I have an ongoing issue with expecting acceptance and understanding from family who are not capable of giving it; it is constant work on my part not to let myself be hurt by them and to value my own opinion more than my extended families. I'm rambling, sorry. About the hotel -- I'm going to call and check too. I don't know why they didn't give you the medical rate! There's also a Hampton Inn across from the surgical center too.