TexasT

Hi y'all, I won't have my first fill until the 20th of this month. I am anxious to get the fill. Lear, I too am going to the HEB office. I sort of have the same feeling, it's not a place that gives you a lot of confidence. I haven't had anything actually done there yet. Now this makes me a little nervous about it, but I am anxious to get going on the fills. I don't seem to have a problem eating anything at all. I just have to take my time. Those of you that have gone before, how long did it take for the port site to get where it didn't bother you? T

Baggio, I guess some folks go through that. I was just READY to get it done. I will tell you be prepared for a longer wait once you get there than you might think. I was there for 5 hours before I ever got to the back. Then I think it was another hour before going to the OR. You'll do fine. Dr. Kim is great and I really was pretty much about my business the next day. I went back to work on Monday with no problems at all. Hey Dianne, I got a new bike for my birthday. Well it's not really new, it's used,but new to me. It's a Honda 1100. It's a little tall so we've got to get stuff to lower it, but I Love it already. So far the only problem I have is getting hiccups. I think it happens if I eat to fast. I really don't think I like the things they've done to the site. It takes way to long to load and I can't find things anymore. Plus that sponsor bar area reloads every few seconds and while it does that I can't type anything. It's very irritatating. We're getting more storms right now so I better get off here. T

Hi y'all, Once again I have been a while in checking in. Actually I checked in one night and fell asleep trying to catch up on the posts. So tonight I decided to check in and maybe catch up later. I have not had any problems eating anything, but will not get the first fill until May 22nd. I will be out of town earlier in the month when I would have been scheduled. At first I was very disappointed in that, but now I think it may be a good thing so I won't be having adjustments to make while I'm away. We have been busy with a lot of clean up from some of the recent storms. We have had lots of branches down and other minimal damage. Seems like we just got the branches picked up and stacked when then next storm came in and took more down. We still have piles to get cut up. I am still not quite able to comfortably bend over to pick stuff up so it is taking a lot longer than it may normally have. Did anyone else have any problems from the weather? T

Hi gang, I've been out of pocket for a little while. Had my follow up with Dr. Kim and was told everything looks good. My first fill isn't going to be until May 22nd, because I am using the Euless office and apparently they are only there twice a month and I'll be out of town again on the 8th of May. My port site is still uncomfortable and is a little swollen, the other spots are pretty well healed up. If you rub them they are tender, but not bad and probably in another week or two you won't even see them at all. On the subject of those bullets, I have tried the peach and fruit punch and they work pretty good in the crystal light peach tea and punch flavor. I can't just drink them, they are way to stong and actually kind of bitter tasting, but they work out pretty good otherwise. So far I have not had any trouble at all with anything I've tried to eat. The only thing I have had issue with is if I try to eat to fast and I can feel a little uncomfortable. Sometimes when I don't think the first couple of bites I think I may not be chewing them up good but I just take a minute and then it's okay. I think the hardest thing is not drinking before or after a meal. Hope you're all still doing well. T

Tweenwaters thanks for the tips on the bullets. I mixed it with water and the crystal lite and it was much better. I still didn't get the whole thing in. I think each day it gets a little better so soon as the swelling is gone I think it will be much okay. It's just that I need to remember it will only be one week tomorrow. I'm still having some trouble sleeping. I can't lay on my left side and I sleep on my side alot. Anyway, I went with some of my co-workers to lunch today and ordered a bowl of soup, I thought I'd be able to eat the broth, but I couldn't get much more than about 3 or 4 spoons down. I just told them I didn't really care for the soup. I'm looking forward to mushies that's for sure. Ty

Nope I'm on liquids for two weeks. I'm having trouble getting in all the liquid, but I think each day I do better as the swelling is going down. I'm looking forward to mushies though. That's next week. T

Not sure what it is but I was told it takes about 10 days for the strips to come off.

Well I haven't had a breast surgery but Mine are lopsided. LOL I think though you just have to remember that your body just went through some major trauma and give it time to heal. I'm just going by previous surgeries I've had in the past but not everything heals at the same rate and time. I think you also have to think about which side is it. Are you left or right handed. Could it be you're working one side more than the other? I'm sure it will be fine. T

Tweenwaters, I went today and bought some of the bullets. They only had three choices at GNC, peach, lime and fruit punch. I did not like the peach at all, but I brought it home and figured I'd try to doctor it up. I think I'll add a CL Peach Tea with water and see how that works for me. Thanks for the tips. I haven't been on a scale since I got home. Pre surgery I lost 10 lbs. I figure I'll just wait until my followup to find out how it's going. My tummy has started to rumble and I'm definately starting to want more than the liquids so the next 9 days I think will be hard. Especially since I can't hardly stand these optifast shakes any more. T

Hi All, Yesterday I had several tummy rumbles, but I didn't really want anything. I found the Protein bullets at GNC today. I bought peach and fruit punch, all they had were the 45's. I didn't care for the peach, I've watered it down and I'm going to try a little splenda in it and see if that helps. It's pretty bitter to me. I'll try the fruit punch tomorrow. I worked all day and made it. I did have one little episode where I sort of felt like I might get sick, but it passed and I just laid off the drinks for a little while. I still haven't been able to comfortably get in the full amount of liquid they want you to, but each day I think as the swelling goes down it gets a little easier. T

Well, I just typed a whole message and lost it somehow. B, you aren't a wuss, we all respond different. Just like I have some major bruises going on and I never bruise. Even the 3 sites where they tried to do the IV are bruised. I'm thinking that may have something to do with the pre-diet and something I wasn't getting enough of. Anyway, I can tell the swelling is better today. I have been able to get down more liquids today. I really didn't do a lot today. I decided to read one of the books I bought for the recoup time and thought I'd kind of conserve energy since I'm planning to go to work tomorrow and I'll see if I make it all day. If I get to feeling like it is to much I'll come home. I'm so looking forward to the mushie stage. I can barely tolerate the taste of these shakes. T

Well, I'm not as swollen today and able to take in a little more on the liquids. I'm just having a really hard time with the Protein shakes (the taste) so I think I may go tomorrow and see if I can find those protein shots you're talking about Lauryn. I have quite a bit of bruises. but then the cuts are really small so I'm thinking maybe that's because of the way they had to manuver things in those tiny holes. I go back to work tomorrow. I'm hoping I make it the whole day, but I may not. T

Thanks Karey, I appreciate the support. I am so excited to think some day I have a chance of looking like some of you. It is so hard to comprehend that it is a possibility. But I can see from all of you that it is and it is what helped me make the decision to go ahead. I go back to work tomorrow. I'm hoping I'm not rushing it to much but I know if I don't feel good enough I will be able to leave. Thank you again for sharing. I can't tell you all what it means, but then maybe you know because of those that have maybe gone through it before you. T

Well two days post and I'm doing pretty good. More swollen and bruised than I thought I would be. Yesterday was a good day and I have not had any pain meds. I have been doing a lot of moving around so I think that has helped. I'm actually planning to go back to work on Monday. The only thing that I am having a problem with is getting things down. I don't want anything either so I have to force it and I feel like I need to burp really bad but don't. T

Wow Cowboy 35 lbs, congratulations! Bonnie, glad you are doing okay. I do have a little trouble at night getting a good solid sleep because when I move it hurts some and I'm only really comfortable on my right side. Tweenwaters, good for you, glad you had a successful trip. I'm doing good. I had a really busy day yesterday. I haven't had to take any pain meds so that's good and no gas pain. I think probably becaue I have been up and about so much. Today I'm planning to go out to my shop and do some quilting, it's a long arm machine so I'll be up and moving the entire time. The only thing that I sort of have that I think is probably normal is the feeling that I need to burp. I am having trouble getting in the liquids because I just don't want anything so I have to sort of force it. T

Karey you look beautiful. Just think when the swelling is down how even more wonderful you'll be looking. You are an inspiration. I had not even considered the need for PS until watching and learning from you gals. You are all so inspiring and I so appreciate your willingness to share. I hope in a year or so I'll be able to see these wonderful results as well. I am now banded and just trying to get liquids down is a chore right now. I have to keep coming to see what I have to look forward to so again Thanks.

Hi Y'all, Well I am now in the land of the banded. I think I'm doing pretty good so far. I ended up being the last one of the day and didn't get home until close to 7:30, but I'm not feeling to bad. The worse part so far was the IV experience. By the time I got to the back I had been over 18 hours without anything so I was pretty dehydrated adn they had a hard time getting a vein. It took 3 times so that wasn't pleasant. I had decided that if the third time didn't work that maybe I should take it as a sign and not go through, but at the same time I was prarying it would go in and after a little work they got it in. Anyway, I'm sitting here sipping water and juice and ice chips. Later, T

It's a done deal and doing pretty good. t

NurseAmy you look wonderful. It's hard to hope I can look even half that good, but here goes. I am scheduled for my band tomorrow at 11:30. Maybe in a year I can be here giving someone else hope. I just can't thank you all enough for being so open. T

Okay folks, I found out I go in at 11:30 so I'll be having a lazy morning. That's a long time to go without even a drink though. Any hints on how to get through the morning without a drink? T

Karey, I have to say that is amazing, but I also agree with it being "gross" LOL. Glad to see you are doing better since I checked in last and you had gone to the ER. Again, thanks for being so willing to share. I can't wait to see more pictures. Ty

Well Bonnie and I are both scheduled for the same day with Dr. Kim. When did y'all find out the time of your surgery? I thought I would hear today but so far nothing. Now I'm worried that it isn't going to happen. Who should I call about it? Dr. Kim or TLC? It is suppose to be Thursday and tomorrow is Wednesday. They said I would hear from them two days prior to surgery which I would have figured would be today. I hate this not knowing can you tell? T

32 that's fantastic. The dietician and I also came to a 140 amount, but Dr. Kim said 40 lbs a year would be good. Not that I won't take it, but I was hoping for a little faster than that. I was looking more like 40 by November. That may just be vanity though because my son is getting married. I guess anything between now and then will be better than what I have on now. This time next week I will be getting ready to go for surgery. This has been the longest two weeks! Any tips on what to have on hand or carry with me? T

I know about always feeling there is too much to do when you get home. I have a question for all of you. Before surgery when you talked to the surgeon how much weight did he/she suggest you loose per year? T

Thank you for your opinions and experience. I am going to go with Dr. Kim because my insurance requirements are higher than I first thought. 40+ with 2 co mobidities. It's my employer's requirements. I don't have any co mobidites "yet", and I don't want to wait for them to develop. How stupid is that? T