PhotoNut

Ahh.. well, the day's winding down. I got Dawg to the dentist this afternoon. He gets to go in on Friday and be put under so they can remove four wisdom teeth. This guy's got roots like an oak tree apparently, so its night night for him while they remove those puppies. I enjoyed eating chicken and coleslaw while I leisurely read what everyone else was doing. It was great. Bottling your own wine, working in high rise buildings (yea, well anything over 3 stories is high rise in my book), going back to college, working out, planning vacations, celebrating anniversaries. *smiles* Life really is good, isn’t it? Thanks for sharing the day with me. It really felt nice to be just that much closer to ya. *hugs*

Copy and paste the text into Word or NotePad to save it. Then click in the siggy edit box and type Ctrl + A to select all, then hit delete and save changes. See if there is still a space. If not, retype the text you want in your siggy. Don't copy and paste, incase there are hidden formatting codes which aren't giving up the ghost. When in doubt, wipe it out and start all over again. hehe

60 grams should be the minimum amount of Protein you are getting right now and there are a couple of reasons why. First of all, you will be losing weight at a rapid pace because of the reduction of calorie intake. Muscle, or protein, is easier to burn for fuel than fat therefore your body will begin to burn your existing muscle mass unless you provide it with enough protein in the form of a suppliment. This is the same reason that body builders come straight home from a hard workout and down a Protein Shake. Also, protein is important for healing of torn, or cut, muscles and tissue. It also helps fight infection. Both of these will be very important for a quick and easy recovery after surgery. There are Proteins that are very low in quality and aren't absorbed well by the body. Be sure to use only whey proteins and avoid Soy proteins. If you are interested in reading more about proteins, check out this thread: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=14199

This thread started today. In fact, not too very long ago. *waves Hallooo to Vegas and Wheetsin* :wave: Happy Anniversary, Mr and Mrs Tommy O! I hope you two get to do something very special together today.

Without question I would do it again. This band has been my saving grace.

My friend LindaV had something similar. The antibiotics cleared it up. Have you been swimming or taking baths? Could be that the incision is just slow in healing due to something like that. Take the antibiotics and keep a close eye on it. If it doesnt start clearing up soon, get your arse down to see that Dr. A 4.5 hr drive is well worth prevention of a port infection! I'll be thinking about ya. Let us know how things progress, ok?

I suggest you have a peek at the following threads. Clicking on the links will open the threads in a new window. Best wishes in your journey. Keep us posted on how things are going for you. *hugs* Questions to ask prior to surgery: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=15595 Things to have on hand for post surgery: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=14814 A very informative video which includes an actual lapband surgery (about an hour long): http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3190472028990485080&q=lap+band

I was going to suggest Protein drinks as well. When you get home from the gym, you should down a good shake that's loaded with protein and good calories. It will keep you from losing muscle mass. Here's one I drank right after surgery: 1 Cup Skim milk (90 cal, 8g prot) 1 scoop strawberry whey Protein Suppliment (120 cal, 23g prot) 1/2 banana (50 cal) 1 can Slim Fast vanilla shake (180 cal, 10g prot) 1 tsp Splenda ---------------------------- total 440 cal, 41g protein So many variations can be made to these shakes. P-nut butter is a great addition, sf puddings can thicken and add great flavor. Get creative

Oh geeze hon! What the hell's wrong with that Dr? I dont know what that "fundoplication" is but I'm going to research it. Did you end up with the band? No? Oh I'd be so upset if I were in your shoes. I'm so sorry your hurting, but just keep focused on the fact that you will heal and the pain won't be there forever. Bless your heart. *hugs*

Aww Barb, I'm so sorry about the loss of your friend. Raise a glass in Hilton Head to your friend. She'll be there with ya. *smiles* Heather *laughs* any excuse to buy new clothes!

Blj.. this is a wonderful place for support and friendship isnt it? I learned so much here before surgery just by staying glued to the computer and soaking up every word I could find here! Sally, I'd like to have gone on the cruise. So many of my dearest friends here are going. Money is limited tho, and an opportunity came up for a cruise in Feb that I just cant turn down. I'll be dying that week y'all are together, but you can take lots of pics .. and you can all talk about me since I wont be there. *winks*

Hey Mindy, I dont know if you've seen this list a bunch of us chipped in to put together for new folks.. if you haven't, be sure to print it out and take it with you. (click on the link below) These are questions you'll want answers to.. PRIOR to surgery. Best of luck to you. You've found a great place for support and friendship! http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=15595

Morning Lisa I hope you have a really nice dinner with your friend. Maudie.. doesnt that sound make you wish you were out there on a road trip? I dont think I'd pick Sturgis, but I'd sure be happy to be in Montana or Yellowstone today Ive been so home sick for real mountains. Terista, I love your smiling attituge hon. Even with PMS you radiate this loving heart right through the text. *hugs* Aaamom, have a wonderful week with your family. If you take any pics, share them when you get back. I'd love to see that part of the country. I've been/lived everwhere else in the continental US but never made it up to the NE.

I see so many of us signed on right now and I was thinking about how far apart we all are from each other. Some of us at jobs, others at home. For some its morning, while for others its nighttime. And yet at this moment we have all come together, looking for support, lending an ear to someone who needs to vent, just being a wonderful group of people in general. And so.. I had this urge to stop for a moment, to reach thru space and time to give each of you a hug and a big smile, and to say, "Hello friend, how's your day going? I'm having coffee, sitting in my office at home.. its still cool outside so the window is open, but we are going to have another hot day. My mind and heart are full of hopes today. Hopes of being healthy, hopes of launching my photography business soon. What are you doing right now? How's the weather? How ya feeling today?"

Thanks for the sympathy ladies. It is much appreciated. And Reeizbooje I'm still looking for that thread. I'm open to any possibilities. These meds are making me sleep too much and I still look like I have some sort of disease. (Just found that thread. Not what I have at all. Bummer) Wow, Mo.. you are jogging?? I'm amazed and thrilled to hear that! I mean absolutely thrilled, woman!! *big hugs* Heather ma'girl, you are doing so great!! And.. Enjoy that concert Gurly! *sings* Let your love flow, like a mountain stream and let your love grow with the smallest of dreams, just let your love show and you'll know what I mean.. its the season!

A very happy birthday to each and everyone of you! Thpethially you NJChica

Cashley? You rock :scared: That said, damnit.. you put your trust in your Dr for your surgery. Stick with the faith. Who cares if you have a Dr who is strict on the post op diet? Just suck it up and do it! You'll have a hell of a weight loss to report after the month is over! *laughs* (yes Ive been drinking again.. so sue me )

Hey dang it! I'm in, I'm in!!

Hey Mo, I wish it were the wine. Problem with that theory is that I started having hives long before the wine. Ive been dealing with the hives for hm.. almost 3 months now.

So, I've been quiet for a month or more. I have saved up a lot so be prepared to hear a lot from me now. *laughs* Here's my update: I have hives all over me. Anywhere you can imagine having one and even in places you wouldn't imagine, I have em. The doctors cant figure out why. I'm on three different types of antihistamines at once trying to get them under control.. so far *scratch, scratch, scratch* no success. The one I take at bedtime has a sedative in it so I can sleep. It kind of works, I still wake up. The good news is, I haven't had any wine since umm.. Monday? And the weight is falling off again. I saw 218 this morning. (then 219, then 220 again, but shhh! hehe) Dawg and I are going on a cruise in Feb with Monte Zucker, a world renowned portrait photographer. A class of about 15 students will be getting one on one instruction from Monte on board and in ports of call such as Barbados, Aurba, Dominica, and St. Thomas. Ask me if I'm excited about that.. go on, ask me! *laughs* I was walking around in my size 12 granny panties and my size 20 shorts today, when both damn near fell off. I love swimming in clothes. It's such a wonderful change from being cut in half by them. *scratch, scratch* Stupid hives. They're all over my face, in my hair. *sighs* These pills make me loopy. So yea, I'm probably more dangerous on here now than I was on the wine. *laughs* The work on the outside of our house is finished. We got the house painted (changed from ugly pale yellow to darkish gray/tan (clay?) with cream trim), new fencing, new sprinklers, extended our patio, brought in sod for around the patio, modified the existing covered patio so I now have a hanging porch swing - yes, that's been a life long dream of mine! - and I even managed to plant some flowers in pots while I was drunk. *laughs* Next year, we start on landscaping, and I'm dragging DeAnn over here for guidance! Have you seen pics of her home/yard? Beautiful. I wanted to thank all of you who have let me know, in posts on this and other threads as well as in PMs, that you've missed me and I just have to tell you guys that you're the best bunch of losers I've ever had the privilidge of knowing. Thanks for all the love. It means tons to me. I'm homesick. I miss Wyoming. I miss Jackson Hole. I miss Yellowstone. I miss Cody. I think it's time for a trip home soon. *smiles slowly* Wow, my friends are going to be in for a shock. They don't even know I've had surgery or lost any weight. Fun. *grins* Ok, thats enough rambling from me. Love you all. Seriously.

Joyce!! ROFL!! I just watched that video and I'm dying over here! That's excellent! For those who missed it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pv5zWaTEVkI Wow.. this has given me an idea *grins* .... stay tuned.

I was having these kinds of pains as well. No reflux tho. My left side, about belly button level, was hurting like a sore muscle and I was feeling a constant pressure under the breastplate, right at the bottom. Oh, and the area around my port was always sore like muscle pain as well. I told my surgeon about this when I went in for my monthly follow-up appt two weeks ago. He said those were classic symptoms of being over filled so he removed my fill completely. That same day the pains were gone. I felt a twinge of the side pain once since then, but that was it. He wants to slowly re-introduce a fill, but honestly I think I'm going to hold off on that. I'm not sure if it's swelling or what, but I have plenty of restriction as I am now.

Yeppers, grats on your banding and may your recovery be speedy and with no complications! Were you aware of the post op diet prior to your surgery? What I'm asking is.. was this a surprise to you or were you prepared for what your Dr. expected? Hopefully you were. And assuming you were I guess you're just sharing what your Dr. requires and not asking others to excuse your wavering from the required... right? *peers at you with a grin* It amazes me that people trust their Dr. enough to allow them cut them open and install a device into their bodies, but they question the dietary guidelines the Dr outlines for them to ensure (what the Dr feels) is the best recovery and results for the patient. Dont get me wrong, I'm not implying that youre doing that, okie? I'm just saying that I've seen many who have. Yup, youre diet is strict, but I have seen others on 1 month of liquids. The low sugar thing makes sense for optimal weight loss. Many soft and liquid foods are very high in calories. Just be sure to get enough Protein and be sure the suppliment is a good one. Thats going to be very important for you during this time. Keep us posted on how youre doing. And if youre interested in learning more about the protein supliments, I can direct you to a thread that has some good info. Cheers!

Um.. its surgery, and while statistics show that there is a very low % of fatalities because of lapband surgery, there is always a chance that you could be part of that small percentage. There is also a chance that you will encounter complications after surgery. Infections, erosion, slipping.. all are part of the risks taken when we choose to get banded. The question is.. have you done your research, seriously considered the risks involved, found a Dr that you have confidence in, made a decision that this surgery is for you based on all the facts, and found peace about it? If so, then you walk forward like the rest of us have and take your chances. The good news is, the chances of success are good.. as you can tell by the number of people here on LBT who are finding new lives because of their band. However, if you answered no to any of those questions, then I'd say you aren't prepared yet. Check out this list of questions to present to your Dr. Knowledge is power and power is comforting. http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=15595 Best wishes!

Darn'it DeAnn, I keep meaning to write back! LOL! (I'm so bad about that sometimes!) Swing by and pick me up would ya?