Pix

Try to think of it as a compliment. I mean they find you important enough to make wagers on. That reminded me of when my DH and I got married, the fella's at his work made a betting pool on how long we would be together. I was this >< close to getting in on the bet and saying 10 years ... I woulda won too, 10 years this past feb'. Anyhow, back on subject. Don't take it personally, guys will be guys and they do weird things like this. Everything is a competition to some men *shrugs*. Next time it comes up just counter it with a look to your hubby and say "Don't you owe me dinner out now, the bet was frank would ask first"...... Turn the tables in your favor dear, make them realize how retarded they are being.

I used to when I was younger, had quite the collection too. Then I decided I didn't want em anymore and gave them to the local children's hospital. Now and then I think about getting my collection going again, but with two very rambunctious boys... yeah that doesn't go farther then thinking about it LOL

I am going over the post op diet he 'prescribes' ... 4 days of Clear liquids, moving on to "solid" liquids... then ... Normal food *as tolerated* .... I called him up yesterday and asked him about this, his reasoning is "mushies go right through the band" ... My jaw dropped, I know he is still relatively new to banding and that he still has to work out how he is going to do things but damnit all. That seems to me to be asking for trouble!! I told him I would bring in all the research I have found from hundreds of different facilities and show him the normal is same for bypass patients. liquid, 'solid' liquids, mushies, then solids as tolerated. Now I am not concerned for myself because my research has one up'd the good doctor (and I do not doubt his surgical skills, he is an awesome surgeon) I will follow the common after care diet I have found, and go that route. But I am concerned for his patients that don't do the research to find out things on there own. *sigh* Surgically speaking he is brilliant, common sense, well lets just say I don't think he showed up for that class :biggrin:

May 7th here

May 7th here I can not wait at all!! May 2nd is my pre-op stuff. soooo close .. yet it seems so far away .. LOL

All I can say is this, go to where you want to be. Only you can set that goal. Will you be comfortable at 160? Will you always wonder about that extra 25? Its all up to you hun where you want to go and how you want to be.

My advice is be honest with the psychologist. I was, in fact I think I was to honest. But she passed me anyways and told the coordinator that I was one of the first WLS patients that they sent over that was probably the best patient for it. Weird huh? I know where my food issues lay, not from emotional eating but the fact I love to cook, and I cook awesome foods. Also I am a weird duck, I literally forget to eat, don't ask me how but I do. So when I do finally eat .. watch out you might loose a finger or two. She never asked me about past abuse issues or anything like that just mainly to make sure I didn't have unrealistic expectations or stuff like that. *shrugs* But then again I am a great BS artist, I grew up military you had to be LOL (That last line was sarcasm, I was totally honest with the psychologist, I know when and where to bs and that appt was NOT it.)

Your doctor is quoting you the low end results of the surgery. Mine did the same, I just smiled and nodded and let him go on about how bypass or the sleeve would be better for me etc. I told him 'thanks but no, this is what I want' and he backed up and started talking to me about port placements etc. I told him I had done my research, I know extremes (both ends) and I know the "normals" and that I found the long term affects of the band to be more my speed then bypass or the sleeve. Stick to your guns, don't let him scare you off with worst case scenarios.

LOL I got one better for ya'll I had just had my breast reduction (went from 36III to 36D) and I still had my drainage tubes in, I went to work to pick up my check and fill out my medical leave stuff (again, my boss admitted to loosing the paperwork). One of the other bartenders (sweet old German lady) came up to me grabbed my boobs and proclaimed loud enough for the lunch crew to here "Well, they are at least real and not those fake jobs Neemi got last month" Then went on to ask me what the 'cord' was on the side. Needless to say I was bright red explaining what the drainage tubes were for.

I do have a real complaint today. Looking back at the appt with my surgeon yesterday I am miffed that he kept pushing bypass and/or the sleeve!! Just cause he thinks its a passing fad cause some doc's in europe are moving away from it. eeshe I wanted to smack him. Then THEN he was showing me where the port was gonna go (short waisted and 31in waist over a 40+ hip ....) he wouldn't let me sit up while he was talking to me even though I told him I had vertigo and couldn't lay like that and look up at someone at an angle!! I think he just wanted to watch my eyes bounce back and forth.... Ok .. I am done .. other then that .. he is a good doc ... I look forward to giving him hell in the next few weeks LOL

It depends on your doc to be honest. Mine is booked solid until July. I managed to squeak in on a May appt cause someone had JUST canceled a few moments before.

hehe I am revamping my blog now ... When I am done I will post the link. I am excited My doc did keep trying to change my mind to RNY or the Sleeve. He is convinced that the band is just a fad cause the doctors in europe are starting to move away from the band. To bad for him, I am getting my band and I am not changing my mind. He finally realized that after I just stared at him when he was extolling the virtues of the sleeve. He also said that I am a bariatrics surgeons dream cause my stomach is so small in proportion to the rest of me. He did crack me up though when he was going over my food journal. He saw that I already had dinner written in and asked me about that. I said well, generally when a person plans out daily meals they will write it down. Then he asked me for my recipe. LOL No way I don't give out recipes, but he could prolly get a similar one off of cooks.com LOL Grilled chicken with a light Alfredo sauce, and wheat penne noodles garnished with perfectly steamed broccoli bits. (all made by me (minus the noodles) as I love to cook! I am playing with my alfredo sauce as to make it lighter and healthier so far so good)

TO be an April Avenger but I am now a May Flower!!!! I GOT MY DATE!!!!!! May 7th!!! :thumbup::thumbup::tongue::thumbup: *dies* My mom just got her plane ticket she is flying in on the 6th, my surgery on the 7th. Sadly she can only stay a few days, but that is ok, I have tons of friends ready to pick up where she left off. (ok not tons, but a few is enough) I am excited!!! Pix

I have to complain... my hair wont cooperate today!! I want it straight and it just wont straighten!! I hate having curly fizzy hair ... grrrrrrr

Sweety, I am not banded yet. I know a few that are and drink soda's occasionally. One has issues from it, painful gas build up, pressure, nausea. My other girlfriend says she has no issues from drinking soda's. *shrugs*

talking with the nut she said I don't have to give up anything .. .. Just moderation and portion control is the KEY to a successful lap band surgery (well and exercise). Just remember, Protein first, veggies second, THEN your carbs ...

no one? *sigh*

Great white north .. you just made me homesick .. LOL I am from Alaska and I miss my home *cry* Grats on the band and hope things go smooth for you!!

What vitriol you have spewed. How sad your life must be to spew such venom.

I guess this is something we will have to agree to disagree on. I firmly believe you have to be taught empathy in order to feel empathy. The situations you mentioned, the AHHA! moments while seem spontaneous said person was probably at one point in his life taught empathy but never chose to employ it.

In order to process empathy you have to be taught what it is, and how to employ it. With out being taught empathy, you can never feel it or even begin to internalize those feelings and and thoughts. So if you are not taught empathy, you can never feel empathy.

Very good questions, at the time I don’t think she felt she had another choice. She was doing some pretty harsh and addictive drugs (I do believe she was on Methamphetamines, coke, and heroine (she also popped any pill she could get)). She had a sobering moment when she realized she was pregnant and her child could be born with her addictions, and the mental retardation, physical retardation and other affects of her abuse. It wasn’t the choice of abortion that was the catalyst, but the emotional anguish after her abortion that spurred her on to change her life for her the child she would never hold. She didn’t want that life to be in vain. She wanted to live for the child that never would. Not necessarily, sometimes the right choice is as traumatic as the wrong choice. Here is a scenario I want you to think long and hard over; your elderly mother is on life support, no chance of ever ever waking up. You make the choice to terminate life support as you feel her soul has long departed and you are just keeping the body breathing. That is not an easy choice; it is a very traumatic choice. But it might be the right choice. While part of you is screaming she is there breathing, the other part of you is weeping as you know it is just an empty shell of a woman who used to be. How is that an easy choice? I know it is more apple and oranges these two topics, but the choice is as painful and soul wrenching. Yes, that is true many women do face such turmoil in life after making that choice. My friend was blessed with a loving and supportive family and friends. We held her hand through many days and nights of withdrawals, and mental screaming at what she had done. It was a horrid and trying time for us all. Mostly for her, but she came through, and she has taken the steps to insure her choice was not in vein, and it was in the end her choice. No, at the time that wasn’t a choice, not for her. Her pain and anguish are not holding her down, or keeping her in the past. She is using all of that as a tool to spur her life forward, raising her children right, instilling in them the belief in life. She has used that as her own reason for living right and to keep herself surrounded by loving caring people, and being a productive member of society. She has taken a tremendously sad and tragic time in her life to change her life for the better. Good gracious where did I ever give you the idea she thought that abortion was the best thing to happen to her?? It was categorically not the best thing to ever happen to her. It was a tremendously sad trial in her life. She does not justify what she has done, but she stands by her choice she made in her life.

Tommy, Empathy is something that is taught, not learned through life. I was raised to feel great sympathy and empathy for those around me. I am not Christian, nor am I am atheist. I do believe something is out there showing us how to be and how to live, it is our choice on whether or not we look at what we are being shown. For quite some time I wandered through life blindly, I was a drug addict, and just an all around mean spiteful person. My epiphany wasn't the same as most, my rock bottom was probably mild compared to some. But I did make the choice to change my life for the better. I wont judge nor begrudge someone because of there life choices nor there belief system. I wont offer harsh words or spiteful vitriol because they disagree with me. I can see your arguments and even understand them, but the way you convey them is just (strictly my opinion) mean and petty. I would assume you don't mean for them to come across as such, but that is how they are being perceived.

WoW!!!! Grats hun!! I find out on tuesday the "golden date" .. LOL I sooo can't wait!! Congrats again!!

hnladue, I see your logic, but I do disagree with it. An unborn child is not a cancer, nor is it a parasite. My children are 7 and 9, they need me (or another responsible adult) to survive, with out the guidance, care, and nurturing I (or another responsible adult) can give them they would waste away and die. I provide nourishment for there bodies, and nourishment for there minds. I would also like to think I am teaching them to protect there souls by making the right choices in life.