NanaRenan

I think this is my favorite thread on LBT -- I never get tired of reading and rereading it!!! And I can't wait to start adding TO it! I've only been banded since Tuesday, but I've lost 200 lbs MENTALLY already. I can't believe how different I'm THINKING now and how gloomy my future looked, until now I see it through a positive light!! Keep it comin', everybody, lets hear more of what's improved for you.

Girl, dry those eyes!! This is your lucky day! First thing tomorrow!!! Call Dr. Fernando Miranda's office and tell them Pam sent you!! They could not have possibly been any more fabulous to me through this whole ordeal with the insurance and problems at the hospitals -- I can't brag on them enough. He's fabulous, his office staff is fabulous.... About Dr. Miranda

Yes, it was and her and some other ladies filed complaint after complaint. For a while he made it really hard on them -- putting them in positions he thought they couldn't physically handle or that would publically humiliate them. They held strong though and finally the company got tired of all the complaints and moved him elsewhere or let him go all together.

Good for you, Amy, for calling them on their misbehavior. You can't fight ugly with ugly...and especially at someone who didn't even hurt you. These women sound like really hurting people who are using their extra pounds to keep those fires of pain burning, instead of letting go of it. Bitterness is a cancer that poisons the container that holds it, not the object at which it is directed.

Okay, after reading all of this thread, :ranger: this is the conclusion I have come to -- All bread is ASSUMED guilty until proven innocent. And timing/spacing of bites is as important if not more important than size of bites and number of chews.

That's about all I know, Amy. I started the pre-op on Friday, July 27th in anticipation of a August 2, surgery date. But I was sent home on that day due to a paperwork technicality. I stayed faithful to the pre-op diet and was quickly rescheduled for August 7th. But that time, I made it to OR, but they were unable to intubate me and damaged my throat and I had to wait another week to heal. That did it -- I needed to CHEW!! I had a little tender smoked turkey, some mac and cheese and some baked potato from our favorite BBQ place for dinner that night and had a whole wheat bagel with FF cream cheese for Breakfast the next morning. Then I had some homemade soups with not all the chunky stuff removed a couple of times. The scale kept moving down and I thought what I was doing wasn't hurting anything. But evidently, it was enough to interfere with shrinking my liver which was the intention. I want to ask more questions from the dietician and have more facts to share.

Whine away. Michelle! We've been there and know what you're going through. I had several near misses with the OR so I did eventually cheat some and was unapologetic -- felt I deserved it after all poor little me had been through. Until I came out of a two hour surgery -- that should've taken a half hour! It was complicated because my liver was still huge. So hang in there. Look at it this way, you want EVERY potential advantage maximized....right? Get creative with your shakes. I found if I blended some yogurt or Jello into it it improved the taste dramatically. And we'll still be here when you need to whine more!

Thank you, I'm so excited just to be here! I remembered a "worst" story my sister told me. A few years ago the store she worked for had a huge buffet table set out for their Christmas party. People came and went as their lunch breaks permitted. She walked into the room -- there were about 30-40 people in line or seated. The store manager had his plate in hand, but had stopped to chat with someone. He looked up and saw her come in the door and announced in a very loud voice, "Uh-oh, I'd better get in line while I can, Regenia's here!!" As if there'd be no food left when she was done. She said you could have heard a pin drop -- everyone was horrified that someone would be that malicious in front of everyone. At every evaluation he'd bring up OE or WW he'd say, "I used to be a fatty like you, before I did xyz..."

Thanks. Yes, we were finally approved the fifth and last go 'round.

He didn't have a chance to forget....I was listening somewhat when he was talking to you -- they were making me suck on that floaty-thingie. He still marvels at how people can form these instant bonds online with people they've never met -- may never meet. I'm glad you called HIM, cause it always reinforces when he knows it's not just something one-sided I've made up in my overblown imagination. People really DO care.

Faith, I could be wrong, but I don't think she meant SHE was eating the pizza, just that he was bringing it home for him and the kids and its tempting her. But anyway, thanks for that explanation about how eating can cause problems with the band....I'd never heard that, but it makes a world of sense. You've educated me today, and for that, I am grateful!!

Hi, brwney -- just look around, there are several threads with Crazy Ates in the title. I'm doing okay, soreness wise. Biggest nuisance is not being able to sleep on my side -- but that was true with the hernia surgery I had last summer, too -- this big, roly-poly belly just moves and shifts too much! I spiked a fever last night around midnight. Can't believe there's no thermometer in this house! But I was burning up to the touch, but freezing cold and shivering under blankets. It may not even be related to my surgery -- DD came down with strep throat the same day I had surgery -- so she may have exposed me a day or two before. But it should get better. I was hoping to do some more extended walking, but Tropical Storm Erin is keeping me indoors today!

Brush your teeth right before you walk to the kitchen to cook. My kids are grown now and hubby has declared a "everyone fend for yourself" moritorium on meals -- he's helping me follow my post-op diet. But, years ago I had a very successful weight loss and one of the main things I did was to brush my teeth so I wouldn't snack while cooking. Then when he walked in, we put dinner on the table. Only I fixed my plate and put it in the microwave and left! I would go walk while he and the kids ate. I only asked that if there were any leftovers that he put them away or ran them down the disposal before I got home. This kept me from going for seconds, or just finishing off something because "it really isn't enough to save".

He is, Bubble, he is!! LOL Thanks for posting my update. And thanks to everyone for the prayers and well-wishes! This time I had a wonderful anesthesiologist and my poor surgeon had to work very hard -- it seems my feeble attempt to follow the liquid diet did not sufficiently shrink my liver. So he struggled, but THANK THE LORD, he did it and I'm among the banded now!! He wanted me to spend the night in ICU, just as a precaution. I don't think they've ever seen a patient like me before -- I was as giddy as a little girl at her first slumber party!! I just chatted up a storm with everyone who'd stop and listen. But I'm sorry -- the relief of finally having years of struggling to get the surgery over AND decades of obesity coming to an end.... it's just an indescribable feeling. I'm uncomfortable, but not miserable. I did wait too long between meds today and am having hard time getting the pain back under control as well as it was before. After the humiliation of the too fat liver, I've vowed to be a poster child for following all the post-surgery 'rules'. That said, I've sat here long enough, I need to get up and walk some and go do my breathing thingy. Thanks again, folks!! Ya'll are so awesome!

That weakness may be your body detoxifying from sugar build up. A drastic reduction in simple carbs will do that and it may take three or four days for it to pass. Sort of like a junkie coming off heroin!! (I've been through it several times in my life!) The sugar DTs that is, not heroin!!! But if you saw my last post -- my surgeon almost failed to get my banding done yesterday because I'd not adhered strictly enough to the liquids only diet and my liver was still huge. What should have taken him 20 minutes took him two hours!

With all my set backs, I was not 100% faithful and my surgeon paid the price for my infidelity and I ALMOST did! My 20 minute procedure took TWO HOURS because my liver was still WAY too big. He said several times he just thought it would be best to stop...but he knew I'd be devastated. He persevered and I ended up with an extra hole but he got the band on finally. But I was so embarrassed when I heard he told my husband that he's considering only doing gastric on patients over 300lbs! If I could do it over, I'd not even LOOK at anything not on the approved list!

Another Band Twin -- I'm a little jealous though, at getting to come home the same day. I spent the night. But it was cool -- I was the only patient on the floor so I had a LOT of attention.

Is that supposed to mean something in particular, because it just sounds ridiculous and nonsensical, to me. Not to mention COMPLETELY UNPROFESSIONAL!!! But I like your style. I don't believe in running people down either -- their character will show itself soon enough! A few years ago we moved to a new town and started attending a church that was much, much smaller than we were used to. I was pretty taken aback as one by one, all the other women proceeded to tell me things the others children had done. All but one lady. Although her kids were frequently brought up by the others, she never ever said anything bad about any parent or child or told of misbehaviors big or small. You can probably guess who it was that became my bestest friend!

I know it's confusing. And I"m not even sure I wrote it out. They said that Aetna's list of criteria for lap-banding is actually a list of things that would make you not be a good candidate for GASTRIC BYPASS -- the item I met was a past history of adhesions following surgeries. So, Spivak said if you aren't a good candidate for gastric, you're not a good candidate for lap-banding either. Is that any clearer??

It's done!!! At last! It was cancelled by the anesthesiologist the on 8-2 because my cardiologist had never signed a release form and he was out of town and unreachable. Even though he was the one who referred me to the surgeon and was adament I get the surgery done to save my life!! On the 14th I made it into the OR, but they bungled the intubation so bad that I was bleeding and swelling and the procedure had to be stopped and I was given a week to heal. But, THIRD TIME IS A CHARM! And I'm SO happy to be on this side of the surgery! Thanks for thinking about me!

Hi, brwneydgrl -- we're BAND TWINS! I was banded yesterday, too! My ordeal getting here was pretty complicated as well. I'm pretty sore, but the euphoria of FINALLY being banded is a great 'medication' in and of itself, isn't it?? Let's keep in touch -- you need to join the Crazy Ates group -- folks banded 08 of 2007.

Tending to my mother in her last few weeks and realizing that I was seeing my future. I might not be able to prevent being bedridden and bathed and diapered by strangers, but by golly, it shouldn't take FOUR of them to roll me around in that bed! Having to buy the biggest clothes of my life so I'd have enough outfits to go on a trip with my hubby. Realizing that at the age we're at now, we could be going on little romantic getaways every MONTH, if it weren't such a production to outfit and transport my carcass! Realizing I want to see my GRANDCHILDREN grown and married and having babies of their own. Hearing my cardiologist tell me that I 'don't have' the two to three years it would take to pull off the necessary weight IF, I were even able to do it.

July 5th, 1962

I was gonna snag the Birthday one, but Justplainme got to it first! SO, "GET TO KNOW YOU" is my next pick. Give me a day or two to think of which direction to take it. JudiM -- Girl, you're inspiring!! That list was AWESOME! Look forward to working with everybody over this! I so want it to benefit everyone! Hugs, Pam a.k.a. NanaRenan

Rainer -- you'll do fine. I managed to raise four (now aged 26 to 18) with only one having weight issues and none being anorexic because of seeing me diet. The main thing I think I did right was from the age of 6 or 7 months on, I fixed their plates, sat it in front of them and cleaned it up when they were done and gone and I never stressed about whether or not they were getting enough. I had a wonderful old pediatrician who continually assured me that only children who do not have access to food starve or grow malnourished. As long as you offer them healthy choices, the rest is up to them. He also told me of research that shows small children may eat all Pasta one day and all meats another and all veggies another -- that left to their own choices from an offering of good healthy foods, they will eat a well-balanced diet. Just don't expect each meal or even eacy DAY to be 'balanced' -- you have to look at the bigger picture. Also, I learned that if an apple is a snack for an adult, a slice of an apple may be enough of a snack for a toddler. Just keep lots of Ziplock bags around and buy smallish pieces of fruit to begin with. I notice it more with my grandchildren now -- than I did with my own kids -- how quick we ALL are to offer food when they get hurt or are cranky or are bored. My granddaughter is 9 and a voracious eater -- all her life! -- but likes healthy stuff. When she was a toddler she'd cry for cole slaw at the supermarket instead of candy and would rather go for Chinese than go to McDonald's. Yet she's on the slender side for her age. I worry about her because her paternal grandmother is also diabetic and had WLS several years ago. With her appetite, if she ever develops poor choice habits, there WILL be a problem. As to the child or two who have weight issues -- it is my boys who played football in from 4th grade on and had to put away a lot of calories for the intensity of the training and playing. Sadly, when they no longer had that outlet they didn't adjust their eating patterns enough to compensate for the more sedentary lifestyle. But they're young, 24 and 21 and I feel confident they'll correct the problem. They're like their dad and can lose 20-25 lbs just by cutting out Desserts and seconds for a month or two! (Don'tcha just hate people like that??) Okay, I'm rambling. I need to go get things packed and try to sleep some before I go to the hospital manana!