Pix

LOL yeah I love how they avoided the tat also. Made me even more happy with my surgeon. Speaking of, I just finished talking to his nurse. Since I do not have a fever, or am sick (throwing up kind of thing) they want me to just keep an eye on it. It does look better this morning so I think the swelling might have been part of the problem as the swelling has gone down quite a bit over night. She told me to make sure I wash it really good (but gently of course) and to put a hot compress on it off and on through out the day. Amazingly enough that is what I have been doing. Guess those years as an EMT are finally paying off :biggrin:

Ouchies! Glad you are ok though, paid off or not rather it be the car then you that is for sure.

Normally I would say you are better off with out. But, something kept me from saying that. I have been racking my brain to put words to it and I finally think I can. I wouldn't' write off your friend just yet. It sounds to me like right now what she really needs is a friend. Be that friend to her and show her that fat, medium, or skinny you are still who you are. Your outside packaging isn't going to change that, you will just be better packaged. Right now she needs you to be there for her, explain how hurt you were by her statements, but understand low self esteem and self body images better then anyone. Offer to team up with her to help you BOTH change how you and she see yourself. It wont be a walk in the park, but together I think the both of you can make this friendship so much stronger instead of you (or her) leaving it behind.

Wow, how not true. I have smoked since I was 15 and no one knows unless I tell them. I take amazing care of my skin, body (well aside from the fat thing), and hair. I look younger then I am, and I don't have "spots" aside from freckles.

I would like to echo the posters before me. What an amazing achievement you have made!!! As to your personal issues, you might want to look into counseling to help you resolve your feelings.

You might want to take a peek at this thread, it pretty much covers what you mentioned. http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f15/im-going-through-puberty-again-59410/

I have been thinking about you lately Ready, how have you been feeling? have things started leveling out?

Don't listen to the nay sayers. They just don't understand what you are personally going through, even though they like to think they do. I was blessed with the support group I have. Even those I don't consider close after the initial "but you don't need it you are fine the way you are" comments they backed me 100%. Well maybe not 100% but after the initial negativity I told them to stuff it, its my life my body and I want this plain and simple. Just tell them to stow it, its your life, your body and YOUR choice plain and simple. Not theirs, not joe schmo's down the street. Tell them they are either supporting you or they are cut off until AFTER the procedure. Maybe not in those words, but tell them plain and simple you don't want to hear crap from the peanut gallery just positive thoughts and well wishing.

Ok, what they told me to do for the breathing pain was to just take deep breaths (as deep as you can) and 'pillow cough'. What a pillow cough is you hold a pillow over your belly as tight as you can with out causing pain and cough deep. Not the throat clearing cough, but the you got a monster in your lower lungs you need to get out cough. It is what I have been doing, when I wake up I still have minor breathing aches, but I start my breathing exercises right away and after an hour or so it is all better. Just remember to take it easy, and when you exhale (and inhale) pucker your lips like you are blowing up a balloon. It may seem silly but it helps a lot.

I am pretty much on the same diet, and I was banded the same day.. so far I can't really take more then soups ... But I think that is my own doing. I had myself convinced pre-op that I would be on a liquid diet for x amount of time .... I keep reading my post op care book (post op diet included) to get my mind around the fact I can have full liquids and watery mushies but its just not working ROFL

Darlin I am almost 4 days out, today was rough for me but that was my own fault, I over did it yesterday. But all in all I am feeling pretty good as each day passes. Just remember, this to shall pass. You WILL start feeling better, and as for your son just remind him that you brought him in this world and you can take him back out (that was my moms favorite saying with me :tt1:). He will come around eventually, no worries there.

I almost busted a gut (figuratively speaking of course, or not) I was writing the dates I ended each stage on the calender, and I go to FULL solid foods July 4th. I got one hell of a giggle over that date. Talk about irony in it all. I got the serious case of giggles when I saw that date on the calender. I showed my mom and she laughed too. I was talking to a friend online and he said that was the laugh he had been needing all day, (I am major comic relief for him with my stories of kids and my clumsiness). I still can't get over the fact I am on a "normal" diet July 4th according to my post op diet book (yes its a book). Gonna go giggle some more over that, I would out and out laugh but it is still a bit tender to do a full belly laugh yet ...

That was my biggest fear! Thankfully it was either repaired or I didn't have one. I don't remember talking to the doctor after my surgery. They say I did, but the drugs I was given were just that good :thumbup:. My mom didn't think to ask if I had one or not, so it is on the 2 week follow-up appointment list.

With a pillow I was back on my stomach THAT NIGHT .. I was sooo happy. Granted it was with the help of some Oxycodone that I was able to sleep on my belly, tonight is just gonna be some liquid tylonal so hopefully it will do the same and let me sleep on my belly.

Well my hubby wants to see a picture of my inscissions so I will post them here .. but yes, I am still swollen but they did some serious manipulation in there, we are gonna be swollen a bit.

My husband and I are both gamers, but we know moderation. We tell our guild(s) that we can only game on x night for x amount of time. It works for us, and we never EVER 'raid' on the same night. We take turns, cause we do have kids and don't want to leave them to there own vices. Our kids and marriage are our number 1 priority. WoW is just a game, and we both know it. Since he has deployed I have logged in maybe 4 times, and never for long. I just can't see logging in when I have kids and a family that needs me more then ever right now. It is just a game, and he needs to reset his priorities big time. He is asking you for help, even if it makes you feel like his mom, he is asking you to help him break this cycle. I hate to say it but he put the ball in YOUR court, what you do with it is up to you.

I hear ya on that shoulder pain, that is my biggest gripe right now. Tummy pains I can live with, they go away after a while (then come back just to go away again LOL) but its the shoulder pain that is keeping me uncomfy.

Bit sore, ok A LOT sore. I was first in line for surgery yesterday. But an ER case went ahead of me, so I had to wait a bit longer. Was home by 2pm ... slept on and off most of the day. Walked around .. I have been drinking Water and had a bit of broth. Gonna try more broth today and less pain meds. LOL

heh I would have to say bowling a week out from surgery would be a bad thing. You just had your stomach and muscles cut open in various spots and they need to heal. The bending and stooping in bowling wont be good for you at all. Best thing you can do is call your surgeon and find out when he thinks it will be a good idea for you to start that up again.

I am sorry your friends are doing this to you. I can’t say beyond a doubt they are threatened by your changes but I would wager a healthy dose of pocket change this is the problem. I was brainstorming about how to respond to the email sent and here is what I came up with. Dear Friends, I am sorry you feel the changes I have been making are akin to an eating disorder, but I feel you have it backwards. I am making healthy choices with the approval of my doctor and a nutritionist. They understand the changes I am making and are working with me as those changes come up. They do not feel I have an eating disorder anymore. They feel my new diet and lifestyle are perfectly healthy and the diet and choices I was making prior to the band were short listing me to a visit with the mortician not the missus section at Macy's. I guess what I am saying is this; I feel that you were only my friends because I ate just like you, but I am sorry I can’t make those choices anymore. Greasy French fries, a whole pizza, fried chicken are things I can’t allow passed my lips anymore. If you as my friends won’t accept me for me, diet and all, I guess you are right to sever our friendship as I feel it would never work as long as you were pressuring me to eat in old habitual ways. Yours truly,

I voted 'heck yeah' ... but, I doubt I ever would. Old habits die hard, and they had to bribe me to wear a dress at my own wedding (and I was a size 10/12!!!!). So umm, its a toss up.

:tt1: LOL Susan that is perfect, I will definitely have to remember that when those vulchers descend on me next year. I have been buying from the same people (daughter/granddaughters (now)) since as far back as I can remember. BUT I send them the money, and they send the cookies off to the homeless shelter. My girlfriend and I started a trend cause I don't like having that much sweets around so she and I bought a case of cookies and had them sent to the shelter instead. So every year, the homeless shelter gets a few cases of girl scout cookies to brighten days for a bit at least. She and I have long since gone our separate ways but we both still buy the same case (well two as I buy one and she buys one) and make sure it is sent over to the shelter. Its sad, but one of these days we know our friends reletives wont be in that troop anymore, and its possible someone unscrupulous will resell the case instead of bringing it down. But for now, we both know and love the family in charge of the troop (even if we could care less anymore about each other) and we know that the shelter gets the cases so we are happy.

Apples2 this is our *counts* sixth deployment *sigh* I could teach those classes they offer for the reintegration stuff.

Brandy you didn't, and I am not fighting. I would love to shop at walmart though, but the drive just doesn't equate the bargain I would get if it was closer. And the new one closer to me is still to new to have any real stock yet.

Indio I never said anything about them being owned by a foreign country. You need to go back and read what what I said not what you think I said. If I remember right they are owned by a company based out of Minnesota or Michigan (some state in that area anyhow). And corporate might like Vets, local stores have proven otherwise. I stand by that claim until area stores change, and prove otherwise.