serenity55

Cindy, I have a friend whose mother had Alzheimer's, and my heart goes out to you. We ride home together once a week and it was really hard for her; she had to put her mom in a nursing home. For awhile she was asking when she could go home, and then one night my friend walked in and her mom didn't recognize her. She asked who she was. I too hope that your dad finds an alternative to the $4,000. It's sad that we have to spend so much for something that's so necessary. Michelle, I hope you feel better. Chili sounds good, though. BTW, I did go up on the roof once, just to prove I could. There's a railing around so I can't jump! LOL!! Tracy, I'll send out positive thoughts that everything goes well at Christmas. I know it's still a ways off, but it can't hurt to start early, right? :smile: Suzie, you're a whirlwind! You walk for miles, come home and do housework--after going to work. Well, I went on the treadmill tonight when I got home, so I'm kinda proud of myself, too. Plain, I hope that just because you're on face book, it doesn't mean we'll see less of you! You're fun to have around, so don't forget where you live! And I'm going to be watching you, too! Angela, for someone who was in Margaritaville you wrote pretty dang well! Hahaha!! Thanks everybody for the good wishes for Ariane. The doctor prescribed 600 milligrams of Motrin, but she's taking Advil, and icing it. He gave her some kind of splint, but it isn't very comfortable. Right now she's reading--actually I think she's asleep, poor thing. Everybody be good! Debbie

Hey everybody! I enjoyed reading all your posts. Jenn, I don't know the whole story, but I'm truly sorry anyone could treat you badly; based on what I know so far, you're a terrific woman, and don't deserve that. I hope you will find someone who will give you all the joy you deserve. Suzie, the prayer walk sounds great. I love reading about all of you who have changing seasons, and beautiful trails to walk on. Kat, I think just the fact that you went to help your dad says a lot. You say you don't know how to help, but you are. (Just my opinion.) :smile: Michelle, we love you too! Tracy, keep up the good work! Sounds like you're on the right track! Plain, I know you're watching. Come out, come out, where ever you are! It was a nice cool day here with a little rain, and we're supposed to get more. I went to play at the hospital today, and my friend Ariane went with me. We take public transportation, basically it's curb to curb, from our door to our destination. When she was going down the stairs outside our complex, Ariane fell, so we spent the first hour in the emergency room. She's OK, just a sprained ankle. But that means I'll have to go on the treadmill this week because she's my walking partner. I don't like to go up on the track alone; it's on the roof of the place where I work and kind of creepy--you know, like Plain! :thumbup: That's probably why it is like that; he's watching me, aren't you? Fess up! But it's supposed to rain all week anyway, so we probably wouldn't be able to go even if she was all right. Gotta go. Time to get ready for work tomorrow. Talk to y'all later! Debbie PS. Hi, Angela, Shar, and Terri!

Hi! Did y'all see that?! Plain's gonna come up here and slap me! Do it! It made me laugh! And I heard that burp after all that beer too, buddy! Remember blind women slap back! LOL! Not much happening here this weekend. I went shopping today, groceries. Came home, had lunch, and helped my roommate straighten out the garage. We had termite inspection and you have to move crap so they can spend thirty seconds telling you there aren't any, or they're in places where stuff didn't have to be moved. Grrrr!! I went on the treadmill, and read a little. Tomorrow I'm going to play at the hospital. Everybody take care of yourselves! Debbie

Boy! you've all given me lots to think about! Another friend at work who wanted to have the bypass--did I mention her here? Anyway, she started thinking about getting the lap band but called me and one of the reasons she gave for changing her mind was someone told her that after ten years the band has to be removed. Someone in my department wants to have a bypass because she thinks it will help her to stop eating sweets. I'm not sure who said it, but I can so relate to the fact that it's not my band, it's my mouth that opens to eat sweets. I have 5.75 CC's in my 10CC band, and I feel full on less. If I snack, I try, not always successfully, to have fruit, a few nuts, or just good ol' water. It makes me sad to think that the band might become a thing of the past. I would not have had weight loss surgery if it (the band) hadn't been a choice, and for all the reasons that y'all have talked about--it's irreversible and less risky being just a couple of the important ones. Tracy, congratulations on the 7 pounds. You are truly our inspiration! My surgeon also has support meetings which he sponsors, focusing on nutrition and emotional health. While I have made a couple of friends there, it feels like I can get just as much, if not more support from all of you, and for that I'm truly grateful. Debbie

I did miss two people! Terri and NeenorNina, how are you?

Thanks ladies, for your support and for making me feel like it's all right to vent. Suzie, I hope you and Daryl --hope I spelled it right--get badges. You certainly deserve them after three years! Angela, I love the suggestions you gave Kat. guess that makes me a big kid! :grouphug: Tracy congratulations on your seventh day! I feel like my eating wasn't so much out of control today. I made good meal choices, but I had a peanut butter cookie! And thank you for what you said about talent. :smile: Plain, where are you? Michelle, hope you're all right. Kat, I always love reading your posts. I can picture everything. Sorry you had to rewash the sheets! Jenn, hope you're resting! Shar, hope you're not working too hard! If I missed anybody, slap me! LOL! buenos Noches! Debbie!

Hi. All of you who have done so well, and I believe that's just about everybody but me, should be really proud of yourselves. You've lost tremendous amounts of weight, based on what I've read, and only started regaining after you'd lost so much. The reason I say you can all be proud of yourselves is because you worked hard and can do so again. And will. But I understand the struggle with food. That's my problem. I didn't want to have a bypass because it felt too risky for me, but I love sweets, and I've heard that people who get the band have less success because of that. That's me. I do great for a while, but cookies always call to me. I read about bandsters who've lost weight in a year, and I'd hoped that would be me, but I know I'm just kidding myself. Yes, I walk every day. Yes, I eat much less than I used to. I even have restriction, and it hurts if I eat too fast, but I've never slimed, or had a PB, so I guess I'm lucky there. But I know there are reasons why I just can't let go of sweets. I eat less of them, too, but I still eat more than I should. I tried OA, and was off sugar for two years--and by sugar, I mean dessert type stuff. I ate sugar free things, but I still over ate. Then I went the other way, and the rest, as they say, is history. I regained the weight I'd lost and then some. I know it's emotional. I've pretty much given up on having a relationship, but that doesn't mean that the desire doesn't rear its ugly head sometimes. I feel like I should be doing more, playing more, publishing my poetry, making more money, yet I don't have the confidence. I feel better about my body, but I'm still not good enough. Tracy, that $100 sure did come in handy! It went for bills! LOL! The gift card I could spend anywhere I wanted to, and I bought groceries, took myself out to breakfast one Sunday, and still have a little left. Sorry for the novel, folks. I do have a journal, and I actually write in it, but reading everybody's posts made me want to share a little--Little?! about myself. If you've gotten this far, thank you all. Debbie

Hi Nina, yes indeed, what fantastic weight loss! Someone on another thread said they saw your before and after pictures and you look fantastic. Congratulations! Looking forward to hearing that you've reached your goal, and you sound like the kind of person who will Debbie.

Hey Kimmie, welcome to LBT. Have you been banded yet? I hope you find lots of great information and good friends here. There's a lot of both. Keep posting, because we all want to know as much as you're willing to share--especially about your band, and how you feel pre and post op. Good luck! Debbie

Thank you. Now my coworker says she may not go to the seminar because her mother's birthday is this weekend and it depends on what day she wants to go out for lunch or dinner, I can't remember which. She's also afraid of "looking old" if she loses weight too fast. I don't know if she knows what she wants to do. *sigh* Debbie

Hey everybody, Kat, thank you for the explanation. This woman says she wants to lose 70 pounds, so i'm not sure if she'll qualify. It seems like one would have to be at least 100 pounds overweight, but I'm definitely no expert, that's just my opinion. Terri, a couple of times I couldn't log on at work, either, but this must be the day for computers to cooperate :biggrin:. Yesterday one of the accountants asked me if I'd received my check for the annual meeting I played for a couple of weeks ago. I said no, thinking that was a strange question because I'd already gotten the gift card. Well, this morning I got a check through our inner office mail. $100! Works for me! Evrybody feel better. Have to go back to work. Debbie

Hello all! Neenornina, welcome. I haven't been here for very long, but it's a great place with a terrific bunch of people. Where in the UK are you from? I've been to England twice and would love to go again. Not much happening here, but I have a question. A friend and coworker says she's interested in having the mini gastric bypass. She doesn't want the band because she's not interested in getting fills. I don't think she's done much, if any, research--she didn't seem to know a lot, and I think she's probably looking for a quick fix, because she's hoping it will help her eat fewer sweets. I'm just curious if anyone knows what the procedure is. I posted this on the Other Weight Loss Forum, and hope that maybe between the two I'll get an answer. She's going to a seminar this weekend, has been through nutrition classes and counseling before, but she says her kids talked her out of having anything done. . I took my pictures to my friend at work, and she's promised to post them for me. When she lets me know, I'll tell you all. I'll be interested in your comments. (I think!) LOL! Debbie

Hi all, A coworker says she is going to have a mini gastric bypass. I've read here that not many people choose it. Can someone explain to me just what it is? I didn't have much luck when I googled it. She says she's not interested in getting the lap band because she's not willing to go for fills. She didn't say anything about getting a plain old bypass and I didn't think to ask. . I have no interest in trying to change her mind, but I also don't think she's done her research, and I'm curious. . Thanks in advance. Debbie.

Good evening, It has been raining off and on all week, but I went for my walks anyway. It's been nice because it's cooler too. I showed some of my coworkers before and after pics of me--some that weren't there before I got my band. I love the reaction. I went to find a friend of mine who was banded and who promised to help me post my pics, but she'd left for the day. The nerve! :thumbup: Suzie, your walk sounds awesome! If I lived in a place like a lot of y'all do, I'd walk like that too. Night all. Debbie

Hey! thank you Michelle. I'm glad you enjoy the music. My original CD features piano, but I added other stuff, too. Most people who listen to it say it's very relaxing, which is nice. I'm glad you're feeling better and your voice is back. A little more rest and you'll be back to normal. Doesn't look like you're going to get that this weekend, though, does it? I went shopping with my roomy and her niece, came back and went on the treadmill. I haven't done that in quite a while, and it feels good. Talk to y'all later! Debbie

Hi everyone, Tracy, I had a hysterectomy eight years ago, and afterwards I'd just sit in my office and burst in to tears for no reason. I think I've mentioned that my therapist said she thought my depression was chemical. I started taking Celexa, and may have to for the rest of my life. You have my sympathy; I know what it's like to try to suck it up, and wind up crying anyway. Believe me, I did a lot of that. Huge hugs to you. Michelle, no voice? I've always wanted that, and have never lost mine. I hope it doesn't hurt, and I hope you're feeling better. Kat, I missed you too. It's good to hear that everything went well. You seem like a truly kind person and what you and Rick did for that man just confirms that for me. Suzie, glad all your appointments went well, and glad too that you don't have to have the hernia procedure done right away. Cindy, those baked beans do sound yummy, and I've never really been a big fan! Angela, it's always just a joy to read your posts, no matter what you write. Ok, I'm a little slow. Do you work at Wal-Mart? Is that why you and Tracy have seen each other there? Jenn, weren't you supposed to have some tlc--was it this weekend, or last? I can't imagine how exhausted you are, but what a great job! Hey Plain, how's life? Shar, I think you mentioned rain, or the fact that it was cool in northern Ohio? Like Michelle, I wish we had something like that here. It was pretty hot at the beginning of the week, but I still did my mile walk before work. It's going to be a pretty quiet weekend for me. I'm going to play again on Sunday at the hospital. I usually play on the first and third Sundays, but my schedule was thrown off because I had other stuff to do, so I'm trying to get back on track. Hope I didn't miss anyone. Everybody have a good night. Debbie

Apologies. I went back and read posts again, and the toy party hasn't happened yet. Sorry. Also, I may not have been too clear, but it's my brother that has cancer. Kat, when you come back, you'll know that I miss you too You're all a great group of people--haven't said that lately. :smile:. Debbie

Hi everybody, I'm at lunch. My supervisor doesn't let me have a computer at my desk, because he says there's not enough room. I think he's just evil. He's nice enough except when it comes to that. there's enough down time between calls sometimes that i could check emails--all work related, of course! :yesnod: Suzie, I'm glad you know what I mean about how good it feels. I've only been at this hospital for a year, but I think I'll keep playing there for quite some time. At least, I hope so. Take care of that back. Tracy, my screenreader didn't say a thing, so I'll have to make it tell me what happened! :smile: I'm taking antidepressants, have been for quite some time. My therapist told me for years that my depression is chemical, and I have to say that since I got over myself and started taking them, I feel better. I don't just sit, not able to function now. I guess it takes the edge off. I'm sending you huge cyberhugs, and hoping that you work through everything, and come out on the other side. Plain, I have an original CD on cdbaby.com. If you enter my name, I forget if I have Debbie or just D, and my last name, Lawrence, you should find me. The CD is called Life Tides. (you'll also get to see what I look like, but just remember those pictures are kind of old! Not that my looks have improved any! LOL!) Debbie

Hi Sammy! Congratulations on getting your band! I'm not sure I can answer the questions you have about the burping, but I would guess that does go away. You had surgery three days ago? Your tummy may still be swollen from the procedure, and it could be gas that's causing the burping. Maybe someone who knows will come along to answer that one! :smile: As for feeling overwhelmed about what to buy? Did your surgeon give you a list of the things you could or couldn't have? I was allowed Soups (creamy ones. I ate butternut squash, and tomato bisque, for example), yogurt, sugar free puddings and popcicles, coffee or tea, neither of which I drink, Protein shakes, and of course all the Water I could drink. (Actually I was told 64 ounces. I don't like yogurt, either!) LOL! It can be hard these first few weeks, but hang in there, and be sure to let us know how you're doing! I hope this helps. ! Debbie

Hi Rose, Over thinking things is something I can relate to, especially when it comes to surgery. I'm terrified of breathing tubes, needles, but tend not to worry about what's going to happen after it's over. I find it really helpful to come here and share my thoughts, or read those of others. It seemed that I wasn't the only one thinking about the what ifs, and am I sure. I hope you will find as much support, information and encouragement as I have. Good luck! Debbie

Hi Donna, :smile: I think you've come to the right place for support and encouragement. When I decided to get my lap band, I came here and read a lot, and asked questions. If your surgeon has support meetings for bandsters I would suggest you try to go if you can. I've made friends that way, and it's nice to have people in your area that maybe you can connect with. If that's not possible, or even if it is, this web site is fantastic. I can't tell you how helpful it has been for me. So keep posting, and keep reading. Be sure to let us know how everything is going. It was really helpful for me to come here and talk, and complain when things weren't going so well. Good luck, and congratulations for starting the process! Debbie

Hey Deana, congratulations on your weight loss! Glad you found us. This really is an awesome place! Welcome to LBT! Debbie!:smile:

Hi Lynn, First of all, welcome to lap band talk. What exactly are you scared of? The surgery? What will happen after? How you're going to deal with it all? I can tell you that lots of us, me included, were scared before the surgery, for those reasons and even more than I've mentioned. So you're not alone. Just let us know what you're afraid of, and we'll try to do our best to give you some reassurance. Debbie

Hi all, Yesterday I went to my sister's and spent time with her, my brother-in-law, nephew and my brother. He's doing well, has had his first round of chemo. He'll be taking it for six months, and if in February the cancer hasn't spread, they're going to take out his pancreas. He's in good spirits. It was good to see him and give him long hugs. Every other Sunday I volunteer at the hospital where I got my band. I was so tired lasst night--transportation problems getting home--that I didn't think I would go, but I'm glad I did. It sounds kind of corny, but it's rewarding for me to feel like I'm making people feel good, even if it's just for a little while. I got a really nice letter from the executive director saying they've received so many positive comments about "how warm and soothing" my music is, and people have come up saying that I make them cry, and other things that fill me with wonder, for lack of a better phrase. Suzanne, I've never been to a toy party either, but I'll bet it was fun, and as someone else says, you sure would have figured it out! :smile: I hadn't heard of scentsy parties until a friend of mine mentioned it just this week, would you believe? I might have to ask my coworker about them. Jenn, glad you're going to get some tlc soon. Night all. Debbie

Evening all, Kat, have a safe trip, and enjoy those grandsons, and Kinsey! Pretty low key weekend for me. Tomorrow I'm getting my hair done, and going to my sister's. She doesn't live far from my hairdresser. I'm hoping to see my brother--the one with cancer. My sister says he's doing well, walking, and complaining of boredom. He has his second chemo treatment this Monday. Sunday I'll play for about three hours at the hospital where I was banded. I know I just had a vacation, but I really need another one! Everyone have a good night! Debbie