srknepler

I've really been melting away the pounds since pushing past my plateau this weekend. I hope that they are all off of my LIVER!! Today is my pre-op appointment. I havent' been seen there since my consult in March and I've lost 35lbs since then!! I've lost about 10 on the pre-op diet alone!

Any EX-cheerleaders wanna write us an official cheer?? LOL Anyone else watch Samurai Girl this weekend on ABCFamily, and smile everytime they spoke of the qualities of a samurai?? LOL

It seems that I pushed past my plateau by increasing calories/carbs just a bit. I think that my body thought it was starving. I'm still a bit worried about the liver thing, but I think that I'll be OK. I'm sure that I'm intended to have this surgery!

I have osteoarthritis in my left hip and knee and have already noticed a difference with the little bit of weight that I've lost this year. I hope that you get some relief.

This happened to my son after his hernia repair (he was an infant at the time). One of his stitches hadn't dissolved and it became infected. The doctor just popped the incision back open and removed the stitch, then reglued the incision. My husband also had a similar experience a few years ago. His was with a regular stitch not a dissolving one though. A portion of a running stitch broke off and stayed behind in his arm. That little spot wouldn't heal and the stitch finally worked it's way to the surface. He pulled it out and it healed right up. I'm not sure if either of those experiences are helpful to you. I'd call my doctor just to be sure!

Yay Debbie! I'm glad that your surgery is on schedule and that you are embracing this information and using it to your advantage.

Perhaps a spray-on tan?

I just bought some liquid Tylenol in my supermarket's pharmacy department.... I remember that it was marketed as a sore throat medicine a few years ago....maybe that'll help you to find it.

Sounds like acid reflux. You should call your doc as it can cause erosion in your esophogus if it isn't treated. Someone who is already banded and has more experience can probably offer better advice as to what may be causing it.

I was also told that I didn't have to stop taking mine. The only thing that they have patients stop at my surgeons practice, is blood thinners. Did you have the heparin shots before/after surgery? Perhaps that makes a difference? I'm not a doctor...just throwing out ideas. Like the PP....I think that your docs word should be given on whether or not you start. Having a Monday start instead of Sunday wouldn't make much difference....

I have been short lately too...especially the first few days (and I had PMS!!). I've also noticed that my short term memory is all out of whack...which is weird for me. I sure hope it all gets back to normal after surgery this week!

MrsFlipFlops~ I've found that the tinactin spray powder works well to keep the area dry. I have had issues under my apron and under my breasts in the past, though this summer it's been the breasts mostly....the spray powder goes on very lightly, so it doesn't become clumped like regular powder. It also has a drying agent to help absorb moisture.

Congrats Hollie! You'll have to post the link to their website after the article is printed!

Mandi~ Thank you! I live about 45 minutes away and will be returning home after surgery, so I'm glad to hear that you recommend that. I have a super comfy lazy-boy for sleeping in, too!

I've been feeling concerned too. It seems like my WL has stalled since being on the pre-op diet!? I'm having 2-3 atkins shakes (blended with ice and a spoonful on ff/sf pudding mix) 1-2 meals of lean meat (7% fat or less) and green veggies. 1 cup of fruit (I've had a tiny bit of FF italian salad dressing on my greens) I started really noticing an increase in urinating yesterday, so hopefully it's working!

If you go to the Medifast website and look at the lean & green "menu"...they have some nice printable pdf's that list green veggies from least carbs to most carbs and another that lists meats from lean to leanest. I hung them in my kitchen for quick reference!

there is a thread for low carb recipes in the food & recipes section here. It has lots of helpful information. like the PP have said, fruits are generally high in sugar/carbs. That said, my pre-op diet includes 1 cup of fruit per day (no bananas allowed, as they are super high in sugar). If you have questions, or your doc was vague...call them back and ask about specific foods.

Oh Nay...I feel your pain. I too had PMS during my first days of pre-op diet. It wasn't a good combination for me either. I would have had the same reaction to the tech....fertility issues really bring out the "B" in me!

Congrats on making through day 1!! The second day was the hardest for me....it's been a week now and i'm not really having cravings anymore.

I was in the same boat back in February. Is there anyone that could co-sign for you? The medical finance companies will allow co-signers. Also, the interest rate at those places isn't great so if you can find a co-signer you might contact a credit union or regular bank. My DH was in a terrible wreck in 2006 and we just got the settlement...that's how I'm paying for surgery.

Nay~ The tucks with Aloe are the best for a sore hiney...

Recipes: chicken Creole (from Frozen Assets) (20 servings) 4 Tbsp Butter 2 cups chopped Onion 2 cups chopped Celery 1 6oz can tomato paste 1/2 cup Water 2 16oz cans diced tomatoes 3 Tbsp worcestershire 1 Tbsp chili powder 1 tea salt 2 tea sugar Tobasco to taste 1/4 tea unflavored Gelatin, dissolved in 2 Tbsp cold water 2 cups cooked chicken, diced (or 2 lbs shrimp, cooked) Saute onion and celery in butter until tender. In separate bowl, stir together tomato paste and water until smooth. Add tomato paste and water to saucepan. Stir in tomatoes, worcestershire sauce, salt, sugar, chili, and tobasco. Simmer uncovered for 40 minutes. Stir in dissolved gelatin. Remove from heat; cool. Stir in chicken and divide into freezer bags. To Serve: Thaw and heat in saucepan until warmed through. Serve over rice. I also thought that they could eat it in tortillias or baked casserole style with some Pasta. For the taco meat I just cook the meat in a sauce pan with some V-8 and taco seasoning (store bought or homemade). The liquid helps the meat to really break up and be loose (and it adds some nutritional value!) For the etouffee...I don't have a recipe. I just saute some onion, bell pepper & celery in butter...add tomato sauce and simmer for a bit. Then I add the crawfish tails, some sausage and maybe some chicken. They eat it over rice.

Lot of Hugs and prayers for you Debbie. I hope that your doc can ease your mind and give you the information that you need to understand what the EKG really said. Don't beat yourself up over the past! You are changing your life now to have a better future!!

I'm using the Atkins Advantage (the only "OTC" shake my doctor allows) and they're not too bad. I mix them with ice and a spoonful of sf/ff pudding mix. The pudding mix really hides the protien flavor!! and the ice bulks it up and makes it more milkshake like.

I have one calle The Lap-Band Solution that my doctor's office gave me after my consult. I'm not sure if it's something that you can buy or if doctor's who follow Dr O'Brien's theory just get them to hand out? I looked at my library and found nada...