Poodles

I have had one fill with Richardson Surgery Center and one with Maese. Both were done quite well, no issues either way. Just wanted to save some money. But now I have decided to go back to the Fill Center. I have had horrible problems since my last fill. Have tried to "wait it out" with no luck. Since I am unsure if I am too tight, or not tight enough, thought it would be better to get it done under flouro the whole time. With Maese, he put the fill in (1cc) when I started throwing up Water, he took out some of the fill (.4 cc) and then I could swallow water. He did the flouro after each stick, but want to be under the whole time like the fill center does to see if I can get things straight. *** just FYI: I think I am too tight because, I can only eat mushies, but think I am too loose because I can eat a lot of mushies. Crazy I know.

Anyone have their port hurt if they over drink/over eat? I have noticed that if I eat alot if my band does not hurt, my port will. Yes, the PORT on my belly will hurt. Do you think the saline gets squished down?

I have an over the counter drug question for bandsters, and a question regarding who to ask for RX's. What medicine can you take for nausea with the band? I usually take Alka Selzer (it works best for me), but don't know if I can use it with the band. For nausea medicine RX's, who should you call? My PCP says to call band doctor, surgeon acts like they should not be writing scripts this far out from surgery. Have not asked fill doctor. If I just want phengren for emergency use who do I ask? Is there a generally acceptable list of OTC products that bandsters can use? I know every BODY is different and has different requirements, but does the BAND itself cause issues with OTC things? Had a horrible weekend from a Gumbo (w/o rice) dish, and need to stock up the medicine cabinet to avoid future nightmares.

I went out of town for a few days and ended up sick. My phenegren is no where to be found. I have been heaving and am terribly sore. Did not eat anything today and could barely tolerate chewable tums. Drank my sons anti nausea medicine (OTC) and that helps for a bit, but not totally. What do you do when you get sick? I used to take Alka Selzer, but don't know if that is ok with the band. Oh BTW... Gumbo hates me.

I left the rice out. So that was not it. I think the spices kicked my gut inside out. Will avoid it from now on. I will ask for a list of OTC products from my doctor. Maybe that can help us all.

I have discovered the Deli counter at Kroger. Have found that some things work and some don't and thought I would share what I have figured out with my band, and hope others will post their experiences as well. Things that work: Havarti Havarti with Dill Havarti with Jalepeno ButterKase Munster Boars Head Liverworst, Bologna Thin sliced turkey/ham/beef Brie (But don't like it) Blue cheese Things that don't work: Chedder Provalone (Worst Pain Ever) "Fancy" Bologna with Pistachios (Don't exactly know why this didn't work.) Want to try more things, but scared to do so, so if you have anything that works well let me know! I like strong flavors so bring it on!

Well Honey, the band will punish you if you eat when you are not hungry. You will HURT horribly and PB (search for that). If you like pain, you may do it more than once, but I doubt you will. No one gets that golf ball feeling on purpose... unless they are an idiot.

As I am a closet bandster, even from my family, I plan on making a plate and eating slowly. I will stick to mushie type stuff (potatoes/stuffing/salads/etc) so I don't get stuck, and will not hit the pies/cakes at all. Then, I will get back on track the next day. I have been banded for almost 6 months now, and no one knows.

Ok Guys and Gals, I am wondering if I should get a fill. Around that time of the month I am shut off totally. Four days after the three day fast I start. (Good way to prepare for things.) On top of that I am shut in the mornings, but have found that I can eat a lot at night. This is what I have had today. Lots of crap I know, but it will give you a good idea of what is going on. Breakfast 24 oz SF Coffee Lunch: 2 bites chicken salad, 1 deviled egg, 1/2 cup guacamole, cup chips (est.), one bite birthday cake. Snack: lettuce and a little more guacamole Dinner: Speghetti with hamburger meat, 1 cup. Snack: Slice ButterKase cheese Drink water, coffee, Diet Nestea throughout the day. Have not been losing weight lately, and I see most of my Junebies have had more than 2 fills, so I just wonder if it is time for me to get another one.

Well, I have found that if I still keep eating the band will punish me for it... so that is how I handle it. If I am stupid enough to eat when I am not hungry, I deserve what I get.

I am so mad at Rick Perry. I just saw a commercial touting his dedication to public education. He also praised himself for giving a merit pay raise and a $2000.00 raise to all TX teachers. But did you know... They raised the retirement age for teachers, because they want to keep qualified teachers in the profession longer. They decreased retirement payments by taking our highest 5 years and dividing that to find out our retirement payments. (They did take the highest 3.) They gave teachers a $1000.00 pay raise a few years ago... then took away half... then took the other half away. So that pay raise he is bragging about just replaced the $1000.00 they took away and gave us another $1000.00. (Remember 8 years ago when they promised a $6000.00 pay raise to be paid in two years? They gave the first $3000.00, but the next year they decided not to give the other half.) The public hears about the raises, but does not know about the times they take things back... Then the merit pay raise only goes towards teachers in core subjects and only IF the administration deems it necessary. They are not required to do it... so it is worthless to non-core teachers, and pretty much everyone. This makes me want to quit teaching. With the Social Security offset, the government giving and taking our money away, increasing retirement age, less retirement benefits, and low wages to begin with... why would anyone want to come into this profession OR stay???????????? (Oh yeah... the kids.) But with discipline problems on the rise, how long with that be a benefit??? GOVERNOR PERRY HAS DONE NOTHING FOR ME or TEXAS STUDENTS. Oh yeah... don't even get me started on that damn TAKS test. Worthless.

Well, even though I am officially surrounded by idiots in TX, there is hope for the nation. Too bad the three running against Perry could not team up. Then he would have lost for sure. My only hope is that he SEES how many votes he had against him and takes that to heart, but I doubt it.

Well, when I was 8 my Mother burned down our house (on accident) and we chose to live in a tent for 6 months in the woods. I chose to wear ragged clothes and to never have any friends over because I was poor. (Kids are cruel.) I chose to have dirt floors and fight the rats for food, to steal toilet paper, and to heat up Water on a fire for baths. The 5 gallon bucket with a toilet seat on it was fun, and the water hose hung up on a tree branch was a blast... until around November. Then it was just a b*tch. But I was young, and did not know what I was doing. Guess I made some bad choices. If I had a clue I would have chosen a better family... one with money. Being the middle child of 5, with an alchoholic step-dad, uneducated mother, no air conditioner or heater was my first choice in life! Oh yeah, I chose to live in a tent until the shell of my house was built, then I chose to live in the half built house for 10 years until I could get the hell out. *** deep sigh*** thank the Lord for letting us make choices. And to think, I decided to be a teacher so that no one else would be forced to live in a tent (taught business for 8 years)... Now I am an art teacher, so if they live in a tent they can make it look good. :love:

"Just remember that my generation will have the upper hand in Government one day, so dont knock us too hard." Hey Jodie, did that last post keep me in the good old folks home, or am I to live in a cardboard box under the bridge?

Jodie, I apologize if I ever made it sound that your opinion does not matter because you are young. Once upon a time, I was young too. I truly believe that with a little life experience, more study, and social awareness your views will mature with you, that was my only point. You see only one perspective at this point. As your life changes your perspective will change too, unless you refuse to learn from life experiences. I wish you lots of luck in your studies. Hope everyone voted today. I can not wait to see what happens, and I pray for us all one way or the other. Have a great day all. And just for fun: per‧spec‧tive  /pərˈspɛktɪv/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[per-spek-tiv] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation –noun 1.a technique of depicting volumes and spatial relationships on a flat surface. Compare aerial perspective, linear perspective. 2.a picture employing this technique, esp. one in which it is prominent: an architect's perspective of a house. 3.a visible scene, esp. one extending to a distance; vista: a perspective on the main axis of an estate. 4.the state of existing in space before the eye: The elevations look all right, but the building's composition is a failure in perspective. 5.the state of one's ideas, the facts known to one, etc., in having a meaningful interrelationship: You have to live here a few years to see local conditions in perspective. 6.the faculty of seeing all the relevant data in a meaningful relationship: Your data is admirably detailed but it lacks perspective. 7.a mental view or prospect: the dismal perspective of terminally ill patients. –adjective 8.of or pertaining to the art of perspective, or represented according to its laws.

Saw my first lap band commercial today on VH1. It has a woman talking about how hungry she "used to get" with big Lion as the visual. Then "after the band" her hunger was tamed, and she was petting a little cat. Then I thought... maybe I need a fill, because I am still hungry. :hungry:

I did too.

All I hope is that everyone votes. I watched 'ol Kinky on the news today, and he is right about one thing. If you vote your heart, your vote is not wasted. I have been trying to get out the message to vote to all of my friends and family. If enough NON-VOTERS of the past get off their hinneys and vote we can vote Perry out, one way or the other. As I have said before, I would vote for the Dog-catcher if he was running against Perry. Hey, you want to know something else I said that really got a debate going..."I think Bush is the anti-Christ." Texans LOVE that... but if you think about it...

Glad you could see what I was doing TOM. I just wanted to show the real definitions, not my take on it. As for you Miss Jodie, if you were in my classroom this is the point where I would pat you on the back, smile, and walk away... No use fighting a teenager, they know it all.

Ma·chi·a·vel·li·an (mk--vl-n) Pronunciation Key adj. Of or relating to Machiavelli or Machiavellianism. Suggestive of or characterized by expediency, deceit, and cunning. Machiavelianism Machiavelism Mach"i*a*vel*ism, MachiavelianismMach`i*a*vel"ian*ism, n. [Cf. F. machiav['e]lisme; It. machiavellismo.] The supposed principles of Machiavel, or practice in conformity to them; political artifice, intended to favor arbitrary power. Mach‧i‧a‧vel‧li‧an  /ˌmækiəˈvɛliən/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[mak-ee-uh-vel-ee-uhn] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation –adjective 1.of, like, or befitting Machiavelli. 2.being or acting in accordance with the principles of government analyzed in Machiavelli's The Prince, in which political expediency is placed above morality and the use of craft and deceit to maintain the authority and carry out the policies of a ruler is described. 3.characterized by subtle or unscrupulous cunning, deception, expediency, or dishonesty: He resorted to Machiavellian tactics in order to get ahead. –noun 4.a follower of the principles analyzed or described in The Prince, esp. with reference to techniques of political manipulation. Also, Mach‧i‧a‧vel‧i‧an. And on behalf of public school teachers, PLEASE take your child to a private school. We deal with enough ignorance now as it is.

Well in my opinion Jodie is already thinking like a true politician... unfortunately. Live and learn, she is young and may have to go thru a decade or two punching in and being stabbed in the back to truly SEE the world for what it is. I was young and idealistic once too. Then after 9 years as a High School teacher... you learn. The teenagers are not the only ones that will try to get things over on you. I went ahead and voted today (Strayhorn), and went to the doctor. My doctor had some questions regarding the race too, since he knows I am a teacher. He wanted to know if Strayhorns ads were telling the truth, and I gave him an ear full. Told him about the so called "raise" and how we go two steps forward and three steps back. How we are losing teachers left and right because we are the first ones they screw. He said he thinks the two to choose from are Perry and Strayhorn, but he has not made up his mind yet. I told him who I voted for and why, and that his 3 year old may appreciate a private education if public education gets any more "help" from Perry. Hell, if my son fails 3rd grade TAKS I will home school him before I let him get held back because of that stupid test. I have seen Seniors move to Louisiana their final semester because of that thing... and they were smart kids, just had that test phobia thing. I grew up in a shack in Quinlan. Going to school in my brothers hand me down clothes. I had food stamps, and free lunch. I have literally stolen toilet paper out of a public rest room before just to have it at home. I know what being poor is. And if I did not qualify for PELL grants and have a part time job I would not have gone to college, and would not be a teacher today. Who knows what would have happened to ME without that assistance. Does that make me a bad person? I now pay taxes to pay for the elderly. Social Security is paid to help those already in the system, not for ourselves. You just better hope there are enough working people in the system when you get old, and that the baby boomers either die early and/or don't use up all that is in the bank now. (I like the baby boomers btw, not wishing anyone dead or anything.) We are not replacing ourselves as a nation, so who knows what will happen when we get to 65. Heck under my TRS plan, Perry just changed the retirement age for teachers to keep us in the profession longer. With his bright logic I will be working until I am 90. (Another way we were screwed by Perry.)

Well regarding the LBT thing... that is why this is in the rants section. The taxes thing worries me about Bell. Although I know more about Perry than Bell, I just don't get a good feeling about Bell. I have researched, and like his ideas, but just don't know how he is going to FUND all of this. Although I am getting some of my information from the slam ads, he just does not seem like a good fit. Perry has been quoted as "not going to WASTE any more money on education" and that is why I will not vote for him. Any money I get for my kids is put to good use. But he would rather give tax cuts to the richest of the rich and put the middle class down to the poor class as quick as possible. He is a waste, and will not get my vote. I would rather vote for Satan himself. I will stick with my teachers organizations recommendation. Teachers must stick together for the good of EVERYONE. I don't ask my students if they are democrat or republican before I educate them, or what their Mommy and Daddy have in the bank, I just do my job. I wish our Governor would give his voters the same respect.

True. Perry will get it, because we are split on the other side. Just wish someone would bow out and say: Hey vote for this person. But honestly, I don't like Bell or Perry.

A Wasa Cracker with lunch meat and a slice of cheese on it holds me over for a long time. (I call it my "Jack Special", because it was his idea.) Seafood also works well for me, and I have come up with several receipes that work and hold me over. (look at fishy Soup on the food thread) Tuna and Salmon should be fine. Remember you are suppose to chew everything to that consistancey before you swallow anyway. Good luck!

Hey this really hits the spot when you are craving sweet stuff. Jack in the Box has a shake like this, and Braums usually has the ice cream... But who needs it! This is Great! Thanks for the idea!