Dody

Strangely enough I thought last night was Melissa's best night. I would be surprised to see her go home, but you just never know. "Baby cheeks" does have the following of the 12-year-olds and they sure can use a phone. He will probably be safe for awhile. Bucky looked somewhat cute with his new hairdo..."sure did clean up nice", but he isn't going to be there long I don't think. My vote for American Idol is Chris!!

F____ a Duck!! and please don't ask me where I came up with that one.

I'm looking at the end of April or the beginning of May myself to get banded...I hope anyway!! I have been jumping through hoops for a year...correct that I've been stepping gingerly through hoops for close to a year. I'm too old for the jumping game anymore. I'm a little nervous too, but after all the tests I've had to go through I'm not about to back out now. I think it is natural to get nervous as it gets closer, but this forum is full of people that have been through it and they will give you a lot of encouragement. As for the gas...I know nothing yet about it. I had gallbladder surgery and didn't have a bit of gas, so maybe I'm just not the norm. The dr. had told me I would have lots of gas from that surgery and I didn't, but then she also told me I would be pretty much down and out for 2 weeks and I was out in the car that very night searching for my cat who took advantage of my being asleep to wander off. I took a pain pill when I got home (same day surgery), slept 8 hours, and then just drove around the neighborhood looking for my cat. Would have broke my heart to lose him. I'm out in the country and at that time my house was the first one built in the subdivision so I wasn't going to run into any traffic anywhere......just construction sites. I bet you will do just fine and soon it will be behind you. Great support on here if you do have questions afterwards. I've been hanging out here for mo. and I'm getting smarter every day

We have two American Idol threads, but looks like everyone has wandered over to the other one. It is getting longer and longer. Paula...how come you are laughing at me for listening to Fuel when "you know who they are" You listening in your spare time too?

Loved when Chris sang Hemorrhage. Sounded just like Fuel. A Grandma can like rock. I love Savage Garden too although theyn aren't at the top of the charts anymore. I have to keep up with Rock for my kids and grandkids. I want them to think Grandma is with it. Kellie is a cutie...rough life and there is nothing phony about it, and she doesn't ask for sympathy. Simon told her she looked like a minx and she thought he said mink...so funny. Hell, how many people know what Simon is saying anyway and how many people could distinguish what a minx truly is. Simon was on Jay Leno and picked Kellie. He also picked last years winner from the very beginning when he picked Carrie Underwood. Simon is a big mouth but he does know talent...he cracks me up with sometimes and other times he is just plain rude. Simon said on Jay Leno he thought Kellie was "cuter" than Carrie Underwood. I don't agree with that one...think Carrie Underwood is a doll, although Kellie "cleans up real nice" She looked cute last night and completely out of her element. I'm glad she didn't have any wardrode malfunctions. I want a hair-do like Bucky's. Mine never looks that good. BLAH. As for Taylor. I think he has unexplained twitches or a light case of epilepsy. I never saw anyone convulse so much and so out of sequence. Maybe he just thinks he is sexy. Jay Leno says they are look alikes. Maybe Taylor missed his calling and should be a comedian. He cracks me up with that harmonica, but he sure can play it. He isn't my favorite by any means though, but I like his grey hair. Heck, he does remind me of Jay Leno in a way.....

That's cute Susan. I like it. It certainly does appear he has been "detained" in some way. Wish he would show up so we would know he is OK. The nerve of him just leaving us hanging I don't know which would be worse..Jack getting hi-jacked or Heaven forbid Jack getting high!!

It just isn't like him to be gone from this board for so long without saying "I'm going to be out of town for the weekend or something". It's been lots longer than a weekent. Jack, quit worrying us now and come out of hiding!! Last post I saw from him he had just got home from the dr. and had great news about his diabetes being much more under control.........and then poof he vanished. If anyone knows his phone # I think they should give him a call. I only know he's in the Oregon and that's one big place. I'm probably worrying unnecessarily, but I sure miss him...his wit, his wisdom, his courage, and his ability to make everyone feel good about themselves. COME BACK JACK!!

Let's see, if we can't find a little sympathy for Kellie who has no clue where her Mom is; her dad has been in prison all her life; she has been raised by her Grandpa whom she adores; and she is a country girl, then let's not feel sorry for Stevie Wonder with his millions just because he is blind. That's my take on it. There is nothing dumb about Kellie....just uninformed. This is the first time she's ever been out of that little town she grew up in, and I see her standing in the top two with Chris and Mandisa (maybe). I don't care for Stevie Wonder or his songs. I think he has gotten rich on a LITTLE talent and his handicap. There are a lot better songwriters and singers out there than him. Lets hear it for Chris. This Grandma loved Hemorrage...closed her eyes and saw Fuel. He is awesome, and I'm a country girl, not a rocker, but I think I know real talent when I see it. I think it's time for "baby cheeks" to go home, although the little girls adore him and he is funny. No one but Chris was truly awesome last night and he lit up the stage with his performance, but his take off on the Chili Peppers version was much better than Stevie Wonder's. Hats off to Chris. He is going all the way. I think we've seen the next American Idol in him. Just my opinion....you know what they say about opinions.

I had been in the hospital over 2 weeks when I was released. I was ABLE to drive as long as I put a pillow between me and the seatbelt. The fact is that they just don't let you get in a car and drive yourself, but I was given permission to drive (although not great distances), and seeings as I had only been taking aspirin for my heart for the last few days I was in no way impaired. Where I live it is desert...everything is straight...no curves...no view, (unless you count sagebrush) and I drove home very slowly. I had no problems, but I would not drive home the day after a surgery. You are still going to be very sore and on medication. The advise given by others is excellent. In my case I had stayed an extra 3 days for physical therapy before I went home, which was on a completely different floor. I had just moved into a new home in a brand new subdivision before my surgery, knew no one there, and my best friend had died of brain cancer the mo. before, so I truly was stuck to get my car home. I would have had to go back for it anyway, and I didn't feel leaving it there was safe. I worried all the time I was in the hospital about it....anyway...yes...take a cab, have a friend pick you up....take the advise of everyone on here. It isn't the same set of circumstances as mine were.

So funny you mentioned meeting an old friend and "she didn't recognize you because SHE had aged so much", not sure if this was a joke or not, but I'm still laughing over it. I'm convinced my street is much longer than when I moved in here 5 years ago, and yes the bags of groceries are much heavier, but I think it's the darn clerks fault who is loading the bags. I also think all these young whippersnappers talk in code or too low for us to hear just to irritate us. Of course in my town 3/4 is Mexican and I have no idea if they are saying hello or go to hell to me...so it doesn't really matter much. I just give them a friendly nod and go on my way. Now why on earth do people move to the U.S. and are here for years and they either choose not to speak English or they didn't learn. That irritates me to no end. I'm convinced they are merely trying to befuddle me moreso than I already am. People also seem to honk a lot at me when I'm driving. I wonder if I'm too slow or too fast or just normally erratic. I've never had a ticket, but that's probably because I never go fast enough. I'm so glad that I can relate to someone this well on the forum. I thought for awhile I was simply losing my mind

So happy you have now got your band and are getting just a little bit better. I know when I had my heart surgery I was scared to death. I too talked a lot to God, and the surgeon held my hand and we said a little prayer and I asked God to guide his hands. He did a wonderful job of helping me out, and I think he did a wonderful job with you too. Your being scared so bad may have contributed somewhat to your almost panic attack (I have them too) and your asthma certainly didn't help things. Every day you will feel a little better and a little stronger. Ask a million questions. There are so many smart people on here that have been through the surgery (I'm not one of them-not banded yet) and they will get you through this. I read all their posts and I'm encouraged by them too. God Bless and have a wonderful recovery.

I miss all of you if you disappear for a few days, but I particularly miss the wit and wisdom of Jack. Has anyone heard from him. I was wondering if he went away on vacation and I missed the post. What a great and gifted guy. He can lift your spirits sky high and he's intelligent to boot...all this in a man....awesome.

A nurse will take you out in a wheelchair (doesn't matter if you can walk or not), it's hospital policy everywhere. They will NOT allow you to drive yourself. I'll tell you what I did. I had open heart surgery and spent 2 weeks in the hospital. I had driven myself to the hospital (thought I had indigestion) and my car had sat there 2 weeks in the emergency room parking lot. The nurse insisted on wheeling me out. I called a taxi, she saw me off, and I had him drive around the parking lot to my car, and off I went. I have to admit it was painful though. I had a friend bring me a pillow to the hospital and I put that between the seatbelt and myself. I could have had a friend drive me, but I wasn't leaving my car there any longer. It's always an option to go that route. They do have lockers to keep your purse and everything else. If you are staying the night, you have to refuse any type of pain medication in the morning...you don't want to be driving impaired. You know it isn't the ideal solution, but in my case it was the only one. I had one aspirin the morning I was dismissed.

You've done a great job. There is a chance that what you want your body to be at and where your body is comfortable are two very different things. That doesn't mean you can't slowly lose more weight, but perhaps your body has lost all it wants and the process slows down dramatically. I've seen that happen with RNY patients also. My daughter is 35 and is a diabetic. She is 5'5" and 120 lbs. Nothing prepared us for this diagnosis. She had gestational diabetes when she was pregnant but the dr. assured us it would probably go away. It didn't. She is now on insulin every day, so your weight doesn't have everything to do with your being a diabetic. You may lose 20 more lbs. and still be diabetic. Some things you just may have to adjust too. People equate diabetes more with being heavy, but the truth is it can strike anyone. My daughter works out and runs and eats healthy, but the disease got her anyway, and with no family history that I know of. Good luck to you, and congratulations on that great weight gain. Those elusive 20 more lbs. may just be your body telling you it is content where it is.

I just got my summer sandals from Crocs in the mail. They are cute as all get out. Because they have an open toe they don't have the big wide foot (like Sasquatch) on them. I'm going to order some more at Zappos.com. I like the Metro style. I live in either my Crocs or Birkies.:hititbanana:

There is an old saying in the nursing field that "Cardiologists and Neurologists Think They Sit In The Right Hand Of God". The rest of the jerky doctors are scrambling for a spot in the left hand. Yes, a lot of them are jerks. I like my cariologist, but when it comes to my scar and the pain it causes me he brushes it off. It's embarrassing to be out in public five years post-op and have an itch between your boobs, and it never stops itching. I asked him if I should consider plastic surgery and he said "if anyone gets that close they aren't really going to care about the scar"....so much for sympathy. I have huge scars on both upper legs as they couldn't find enough veins in one leg for the bypass. I do believe the janitor stitched them as well. Although they healed, they are ugly to the max and if I lost 100 lbs. I'd never wear a bathing suit because of them. They border on grotesque.

Because of the port location which will be to the left of my bellybutton, I'm wondering if underpants will be appropriate to help with the port...the pulling sensation, or if it is better to go "pantless". I'm so uninformed in this area. I think I've learned a lot on this forum about the surgery itself and what to expect, but I never saw anyone address what they wore afterwards. If I was going to be home I would probably settle for comfortable nighties as I live alone, but I'm going to be visiting and that certainly isn't appropriate. I just ordered a snap up knee-length robe from Blair and some yoga pants from Silhouette's (they have really nice things there, thanks for the info on it), but the underwear is a touchy subject...to be or not to be that is the question. I've always had trouble with bras since my open heart surgery. It was 6 mo. before I could wear a sports bra and never one that fastened in the front (somehow that bothered my scar more). I'm finally wearing regular bras, although I can't wear underwire at all, and now I think I'll be going back into sports bras. I think my heart dr. spent 9 hours on my surgery, got tired, and had the janitor stitch me up. My scar looks like a huge zipper with keloids on it....very ugly and looks like it was done yesterday, and is still painful. When I tell my dr. he very non-chalantly says "You are alive aren't you"...DUH.

Congrats on that great weight loss. You girls are great inspiration.

Crocs are "butt ugly" but there isn't a more comfortable shoe in the world. I got the idea from my daughter who is on her feet all day at a hospital. I wish they had "Crocs" when I was nursing. They are like walking on a cloud.

Some wonderful ideas here. I'm going to hit a few stores for the shift dresses and the snap front shifts. I do have a couple of the loose pull on dresses from Blair, so that is a great idea. I am also going to check out Silhouettes.com. Thanks so much to you all for your help and God Bless.

When you came home what did you find it most comfortable to wear. I'm wondering if I should be looking at jogging wear with the elastic band or what. Because I won't be alone and will be at my daughter's home I can't run around in a nightgown (which I don't like anyway). I was thinking perhaps one of those cotton shifts that snap up the front, but I have no clue. Will the little bit of elastic on my pants bother my port? Thanks for all your help. Also, how long before you ventured outside and did some walking or went to the store and felt comfortable? I guess my problem is I will be at my daughters but her friends are always in and out (not to mention her hubby does a lot of work from home and has friends stop by) so although I want to be comfortable I know I can't hang out in some shorty gown or something.

Mary's hackles went up when her hubby paid you a compliment. Perhaps he doesn't pay enough of them to her. She just might be fighting her own demons, so unlike the others I think I would feel sorry for her that she felt she had to make this remark. She was protecting what she thinks is "her property". She has probably definitely noticed you losing weight and if she didn't say anything before her husband did....well you have to think she is wondering how, when, why, where and how. She certainly isn't positive energy, but I would confront her if she is the friend you think she is, and let her know that her remarks hurt me. If you can't be completely honest with a friend then they weren't a friend to start with.

Someone on here the other day was asking about some type of "timer". This must have been what they meant. It sounds like it could really help. I haven't had my surgery yet, but have jotted down the info to order one.

ROFLMAO. So funny. Seems strange to hear the "bullshitting" remark come from a dr., but oh so true. That is what he told me, but I don't think I would want it anyway. What the heck would I do with it? It would just remind me of a bad experience I would just as soon forget. You mentioned you have a whole drawer full of them. Do most people feel like me and simply don't want it or reminders of it? Why the heck to you keep them. Do you have a band fetish or just a collector?

I guess if they could put mouthwash in a strip they could put an antacid in a strip. How well it works I don't think we will know till someone tries them and lets us know. Sounds like a great way to take it though. It would be nice if all medication could be taken this way after lap banding and then we wouldn't have to worry about swallowing pills.