j.s.

I can understand the crazy inlaw thing. I have been very open and honest about my surgery except with them. I dont feel it is their business. They are my husbands parents, not mine. I have no quams about not divulging information to them that I do not care to divulge. I find them to be very judgmental people and I do not care to be judged by them unless I get to do my own judging back out loud (that will never happen) so I just am selective with my information as far as they are concerned. Some conversations just cannot be won so you need to just let it be, water under the bridge. If it comes up by them again, just be nice and say you do not wish to discuss this with them if they feel the need to lecture you and belittle you, end of story. Sometimes you just have to put your foot down and say, you crossed the line.

I had my gallbladder out about 15 years ago, started as laparoscopic but went to open due to an emergent situation. No problems what so ever with banding. matter of fact, my surgeon put one of my new band scars right on top of the old gallbladder scar to hide it (my GB scar is nasty). Dont worry.

Cant hurt to ask - worst they can do is say no.

Hey margo, I had the major hair prob. Can get Biotin at walmart. It seemed to really help - or it just run its course and I was done going bald, either way it is not so scary anymore. j.s.

Schel, I took off one full week then went back to work a half days for a week (I work at home so I was able to just do 2 hours then lay down if I needed to, then do two more hours.) I really didnt need to but it was nice to be able to. I will tell you, I had considered RNY but my biggest issue was with rerouting things what happens 20 years down the road. I could not find one medical person to answer that, they all said - we dont know. That was enough for me. I plan on living longer than 20 years so I want to hear an answer. As I am only 5 months out, that is about all I can give you at this point other than I am very happy with my band. I was not scared of the banding surgery. And the only thing in my life that has changed is no soda (which I am totally over) and I am a cheaper date!

John, That is just great! I can only hope I can do as well as you have! Congrats!

oh man, do I ever. Nasty legs. My feet are dry and calloused. I never wear shoes. Got one of them stones in the shower, they really help for the heels. I was wondering if the varicose viens go away as you lose weight? I have one vien that sticks out on the side of my knee and just throbs (I sit all day at a computer). My surgeon (lucky me) can fix those too, I was told, but am waiting to see what happens down the road.

I didnt have that problem with my first fill but my second fill did it to me. I dont eat too many carbs at all any more. I stick with the protien and the veggies. I find I have a much easier time of things and carbs are what got me here to begin with. You will find that protien is your best friend. Also - especially when out in public remember go SLOW, put your fork down. Chat a lot, then take another small bite. I have not had any problems in public but I really keep an eye on what I am doing when I am out and I really keep that slow pace.

Margo, How cool is that! I didn't get any letter with a check! But then again, I can't say I remember paying any program fee tho either, they just charged me the $900 that is my out of pocket payment for the year. Heres hoping I get a happy little check in the mail (but I surely wont hold my breath for that one!)

Ray, You arn't nuts when you say it sounds stupid. I have only had two Pbs but let me tell you mister, I remember both vividly. Not a happy warm feeling at all! Mine were just awful... Never felt so sick as I felt then. Worst part about it was here it is daytime and I just wanted to crawl into a hole and die - well until I yakked up, then I felt better, but before that the pain was incredible and the nausea was something I have never had before, nor hope to ever have again. I tell you now when I get that "Uh-oh feeling" it truly puts the fear in me and I sigh a huge sigh of relief if it all passes without incident. I have to second it..... be careful what you wish for!

I like this thread. Ok heres mine: About a million years ago, when I was a sweet young thing, all of 19, I lived at my brothers house. I had to sleep on a couch in the living room. Next to that room was a dining room that also had a couch and one of my brother's roomates slept on that couch. They all worked first shift and I worked 2nd shift so I would be up late at night watching tv - with the lights off, not to disturb the sleeper in the dining room. Well it would be late and I would hear this high pitched squeaking noise that sounded like it was coming from the kitchen where the back door was. This was an old house and had a creepy basement leading off in the kitchen also. Well I would hear this noise and go into the kitchen walking through the dining room and then the noise would stop. After about an hour of this, I would go lock the back door and the door that led from the basement to the kitchen, lock that one too. This happened like 4 nights in a row. I would be freaking. My brother finally comes home one day all pissed off saying "why do you keep on locking that back door and shutting that other door locking that one too?" (this irritated him, he had an open door policy that was well known and he felt I was comprimising that policy). So I tell him I am hearing these creepy noises coming from the basement. At this time I had totally decided it must be a rat or something else equally as icky coming up from the basement and it was not gonna be getting me! I explained the noises I heard every night - my brother says, thats not rats, thats Rick! Turns out they were the guy sleeping in the dining room - he ground his teeth while he slept! I never in a million years would have thought that was what grinding teeth sounded like. Turns out I married that guy. p.s. He stopped that teeth grinding too!

margo, Yeah, I will be there and I will bring the mag then.

I too thought how can I go without my diet coke, it is amazing, I have not had one since prebanding and have no desire to even give one a try. It is just a non-issue anymore. Weird isnt it?

Ebonysilk, I had pain only for the first few days, then just more tired than anything else. I would say it took me from start to finish maybe a month from the day of surgery to not even knowing I had a surgery done. The message boards are great for reading other peoples experiences. I would say you still have two weeks before your surgery, schedule another appt. with your surgeon and this time come preppared, write down all those questions you have and just go down the list with him. Dont worry, they are used to this. Your surgeon would rather have you be totally comfortable with what your about to go through, the less stress you feel, the better you will heal. It sounds like your worried of the unkown, so get yourself informed, you will be much happier for it. Good luck.

Margo, I got a subscription to that magazine also and I find its one of those you can read through really quick. If you want I will send you the mag after I have read it, that way we both dont have to waste the money for it. Let me know, I will be happy to get it over to you one way or another.

Margo, Yeah I sent you a private message. Just hoping all went well and congratulated you on being on the losing side! I will give you a call, wanted to give you some time to stay in the drug induced haze for a bit. Remember to do your walking and sipping and nap a lot (naps are a good thing!). j.s.

Margo, Anytime girlfriend, anytime!

Hey Margo, If it isnt one thing is another huh? Drink tons of Water with that cranberry juice, they also have cranberry pills (at walmart). Flush that infection right out of you. I am keeping my fingers crossed for you that everything goes okay!

Margo You know you have met a band buddie in me and I am here to the end. We have to stick together - then we have the power, not the mean nurse. I am glad your feeling better. I know you can whip that nurse butt! Just remember, that liquid protien is only for the short term, band is forever! I look forward to seeing you Wed.

Margo, Hey girl! What is this, this is not the same person I met at the group meeting last month is it? I met you and I know you can do this. You don't let anybody tell you differently. The margo I met was very ready for this change and very upbeat. And as far as the nurse making that comment, I would be quite suprised if your surgeon would be very pleased to hear one of his staff making a comment such as that and you can and should bring that to his attention. You are doing great with your own form of protien diet so don't let the negative thoughts cloud your judgement. You know what you are doing and are doing a fine job of it as well. Chin up margo! Will I see you at this months meeting on Wed nite? I hope so! J.S.

I too just bought one last night. I have been looking at the Magic Bullet but I just figure there are sooo many cups and only one me. Also the price is just too high for me to accept. I got my mini blender last night and used it today, just loved it. When I was first getting ready to be banded I saw one of these at a walmart I dont shop at, (out of my area) and I did not get it right then. Since that time I have been looking for one and they are always sold out so I was very happy to get the last one at this new walmart I went to. I give it two thumbs up!!

Very, very funny! May have been traumatic for you but I sure enjoyed your post!

RainAlaya, I too was a smoker. I cant remember when my doctor told me to quit smoking. I think the nurse said I would have to before my surgery. Then in the preop testing he told me I would have to do the pulmonary function tests (which I flunked) then I had to go see a pulmonologist and that is when I quit smoking. I knew the doc would want me to be smoke free for one month but I also knew that the pulmonologist would say the same thing so I just quit right then. Went on the patch. I smoked at least a pack a day for about the last 25 years. I have been smoke free since 1/15/05. My surgery was on 4/8/05. I know my surgeon does not do surgery on anyone who is a smoker (and they did tell me I could even be on the patch in the hospital if I needed it). I will keep your husband in my thoughts and prayers for a speedy and safe return from Iraq.

Does anyone know WHY ports flip?

Kimber, I think the support is great too. I have been coming to this web site and a couple others for the past 6 months but getting in front of real live people to discuss stuff with is just the best thing. My first support group meeting was not what I expected it to be (only 3 banded people) but this second one was just wonderful. Hopefully my new band friends will keep coming to our group meetings.