mousecrazy

I've been there. I'm sorry for your loss, and it is a loss. He is in doggy heaven now, running and playing with all the others, and some of our human angels are handing out treats like crazy! Let the angels you know comfort you, too. Hugs, Cindy

Hi, everyone! Just checking in to wish Eileen a great banding, and happy recovery. I understand your feeling about your DD, but remember you are doing this to give her a happy, healthy mommy, with a better chance of a longer, healthier life. How old is your DD? Try not to get too freaked out and dramatic. It's going to be okay. It's going to be okay. Repeat as needed. Love and hugs, Cindy

Get it for post-op, and you'll probably need for a week or two. Some people need it every now and then afterwards. I haven't used it since the first month after surgery...but the gas pains after the operation were the one and only thing that truly caused discomfot for me. I am not extremely sensitive in the area of pain, so the port incision pain was uncomfortable, but didn't cause me extreme pain. It does for some. In all abdominal surgery, lots of gas in pumped in to separate the parts so they can see them better...that gas "travels" around until it can be released from the body...almost always up to the shoulder. It does get better. I also bought some baby tummy drops, which is just simethicone in liquid form, and you only take a couple of droppers at a time. You might like that. Hope this helps, Cindy

Welcome! Glad you found us and came out of hiding! I lurked around for a few days before jumping in, too. Couldn't have chosen a better place to learn, get support, and make some great friends! Keep posting! Cindy

I'm in the holding pattern at my new weight of 249. I am happy with that. I may meet your challenge when you posted of losing 10 by Thanksgiving...I'll have to check back, but I think I've lost 4 since then, and we have 7 weeks (I think). PinkMary, you've lost a lot of weight! Keep after it! Cindy

Way to go! You're a big loser! Doesn't that sound funny? Keep up the good work! Cindy

Hey, it's going to be just fine. Your nervousness is completely normal; it would be weird if you weren't, right? I had the same doubts and anxieties as you express, and all my friends around here assured me it was going to be okay, and it was. I bet there are very few people who totally and completely follow all the rules all the time. I know I don't. The reason the band works for me is because I follow the rules most of the time, and if I don't, the band is right there to put the brakes on it! I enjoy having brakes, for a change! You can ask all day what people eat and how much, and the info is useful as a frame of reference and experience, but only you will be able to determine what is okay for you, and what your band will tolerate on any given day. It is a learning experience and a journey, and you will be very happy with your decision, I predict! Good luck Monday, post when you feel up to it. Cindy P.S. Get some kind of liquid Gas-X!

Good morning, all. DH took the early shift, taking DD to church at 7:30 for set-up and rehearsal...I get to leisurely arrive at 9:40 for brunch, then my nephew and I will watch her play in the last service. Eileen, Ivan brought up a Very Important Point: "Before" pictures! The day before my surgery, my DG took 3 pictures: front, side and back. Then on each month anniversary, we take the same pictures. I save them in a folder on the computer call "Lapband progress". I am taking my 3 month pictures today. It is amazing! While you can't really "see" your progress, those photos don't lie! One thing I noticed especially was on the "back " view, where you can actually see that my neck is thinner! Those are measurements women just don't think to take! Beanie, I'm gonna PM you my work/home email addresses, so you can email me your chapter...I am looking forward to it! Maybe you can mentor me in a direction to write mine? We'll chat and discuss my possibilities. Love to you all, Cindy

Robin, where are you? I sent you a PM, in case you haven't checked it. I"m a former Al-Anon member, also. Great orgnization, and I learned a lot. Between that and God, I have a whole new life. Good luck, Cindy

Becky, good luck! And if you don't mind, I'll cross my fingers AND say a prayer for you! Please let us know what you find out! If you need anything, let me know; I think you're fairly close by, Cindy

Eileen!!!!!!!! Fantastic!!!!!!! I couldn't get on here last night (no time, it's DD's birthday weekend, and it all revolves around her, OF COURSE!) and so when I got home this evening from Birthday, Round 2, and saw your great news, I jumped for joy! OR, I would have, but my feet hurt from wearing my cute high heel clogs! Let's just say I am jumping for joy in my heart! I can hardly wait, and I know you are excited. Don't get nervous. I feel like I know you, and you'll take the whole thing in stride. I'll say special prayers for your health and guidance for the surgeon. If your surgery is scheduled for 4PM, you should be home and resting by 9 PM at the latest, right? BETTY---you were in SANGER!!!!! The next time you do that, give me a call. PM me for my cell number....You were right here in my town. Now today, I was in Denton, at my dads for the family party, but I'm usually around. It would be great to meet up sometime. Let's grab BEANIE, too... I'm excited about your book, Beanie...I'll edit for you just for the fun of it! Don't judge my skills based on these posts, because here I am just having fun, and writing like we talk, okay? Like Beanie said, get that GAS-X or something like it...that was my biggest problem. And, it will take some practice to find the right way for you to get out of bed. I watched a lot of TV the first couple of nights because I couldn't sleep for more than 3-4 hours at a time, without needing to take a pill, or get a drink, or go to the bathroom! But, pretty soon, all that is over, and you are back to 100%. Tomorrow is a long day, but fun! The weather is beautiful, sunny and cool (not cold). I think I"ll wear my new cheetah print skirt and a sweater to church! Hugs to all, and I'll check in tomorrow night, after Birthday, Round 3! Good night, Cindy

Kathy, you are the coolest! I have enjoyed reading everything on here! Thanks for all the good ideas, and pointing out that it's the little things that count; in fact, they add up to ONE BIG SUCCESS! Cindy

It goes like that for me, too. I just survived a month of no scale movement, before this week...yet, in that same time frame, my pants were getting baggy, I had to move the 22's forward to the front of the closet, and people were commenting on how much weight I'd lost. Some smart lady around here wrote about "back fat" and I think she's onto something...we have fat stored all over the place, and fat doesn't weigh much, so you can lose just a little fat on your neck or back, and the scale won't move, but you'll look better, and your clothes will be loser. It made sense to me. Cindy

Chichigirl is right on the money! Too much apologizing for mistakes that are made by everyone, skinny or MO. Acceptance of self is a step to change. You made decent decisions, how much more can one ask of oneself? Good job, and good luck with the fill! Cindy

Seriously, I used to despise the term "Morbid Obesity" until it came to being covered for my Lapband sugery! Now, it's music to my ears! Cindy

Hang in there...and keep asking questions. These insurance companies count on people taking their first answer....ask again. I was BMI 45, no comorbidities besides joint pain, like you. My insurance co. covered the surgery at 70%. All insurance companies are different, and if there is not an exclusion, you may well be in luck! Cindy

Thanks to whoever bumped this thread so we can check in on each other! First of all, everyone is doing great! Isn't it great to feel successful at the weight loss thing for once? And know it isn't going to go away? I'm going to tell what is my "overall" weight loss, from a highest weight of 285. Now, I am 248, so my total loss is 37 pounds. This does not match my ticker, because I started it at 282, my weight at my consultation before surgery. I have lost about 4 inches pretty consistently at every body measurement, like chest, waist and hips. I am two sizes smaller than I was before surgery. Definitely, my weight loss has slowed from a very fast rate at first, but I've only had one fill, by choice. I'm learning to work with the band, and straighten out my head hunger. I need a little wiggle room to do that. Keep on going, July bandmates! Cindy

HI everyone! Beanie, it's true, it's true! Fall is on it's way (again)! My fingers are still crossed for your appeal to be successful...keep up posted; you are doing a great job of that! Also, may I please be your editor? It will be good practice for my book! Seriously, I know there's a book in here somewhere...when I retire, I'm going to ponder it. Eileen, keep teling us poor, hot Texans about the REAL fall weather you have! Pat, that seafood thing sounds so great! The one thing I worried about was not being able to eat shrimp (that's what someone said at the seminar I went to), and so far, I have not had any trouble, glad you don't! Dinner plans? No plans here, I think everyone's gonna fend for themselves tonight...I think we have left over chicken. I'm packing "goody bags" for the birthday party on Sunday. School has been fun today...kids were working well, and I had some great discussions on life with them today. That's a great day in my book! I'll check back later, Cindy

Paula, first, I am so happy you suffered minimal damage, and you are all safe! When I was a little girl, from birth to about 11 year old, my family would go to a friend's beach house on Holly Beach, so it's very real to me. I remember swimming there, playing on the beach...wondering why I couldn't go to the BonTemps Roulet (sp?) with the grown-ups....LOL! It hurts to see the beach like that...I hope it won't be long before there is rebuilding. I am glad you posted the pictures...and interesting that so little time was given to other parts of Louisiana and Mississippi, in contrast to the New Orleans situation. YOu did us a public service! Thanks, Cindy

Wow! A pat on your skinny back! Truly inspirational...I'm so proud of both of you! Cindy

Hi, everybody! Seems like the first emergency going on around here is Eileen's problem with insurance/surgery...I am soooooo upset for you! It is not an easy thing to get everything arranged, then have to wait and change things due to bureaucratic foul-ups (do you like how I said FOUL-ups instead of @*@$?) It's like Beanie said, everything will work out, and you will be happy. To all of you, thanks for whoops of congratulations...it is so great to get that from people who KNOW what it's like...I'd be embarrassed to say that to my skinny friends at work...I don't know what size they think I am, but I bet it was never as high as it actually was! LOL! On the other hand, I guess my problems are purely evident on the outside...and they probably have the same ones, but do something else instead of eat...wonder what? Probably they found those joints Eileen was looking for. LOL! Beanie, I'm out here pulling for you against the insurance company. I think you're a real hero! This is the week of my sister's and daughter's birthdays...my sister's is today, and my daughter Haven's is Friday. She'll be 8, or have I said that already? ANYWAY, there's a family party Saturday, and hers is Sunday afternoon (with friends). She is doing chimes in two services of church on Sunday also. Guess I won't get to watch the Cowboys this week? Anyone else a football fan? Time to get the bedtime train rolling...Eileen, I hope you sleep better, maybe it was the full moon? Goodnight ya'll! Cindy

Thank you, Betty, for the wisdom and inspiration you are to everyone here! A big congratulations to you! Cindy

Here's my list: 1. Bread - yes 2. Pasta - yes 3. Pop - no 4. Tortillas - yes 5. Salad - yes 6. Steak - yes (small bites, chewing well) 7. Roast - yes 8. Cereal - yes 9. Hamburger - yes 10. Pizza - yes 11. Apples - yes 12. Chips - yes 13. Cheese - yes 14. Shrimp - yes 15. Pop corn - yes 16. Pretzels - yes The one food I have had the most problems with is roast chicken...I don't know if I forget to eat small bites and chew really well, or if it is just the food itself....I keep trying, though, because it is good protein and I like it. I am careful of anything with skin, like tomatoes, apples, potatoes...I eat it, but am aware of chewing very well. I also agree with the point that this list is subject to change without notice! Cindy

I wouldn't have missed a word of it! Thank you for honoring your self; in doing that, you honor all of us! You are a beautiful and amazing woman! Congratulations! Cindy

Good question! The high end of the "range" for my height, 5'7", is 150. I have been there twice. Once, in college, and again about 15 years ago when I used Tenuate for weight loss. The truth of the matter is that I would be satisfied with 180, but thought, why not go for it! I won't ever get there if I don't state it as a goal. Cindy