Morsaille

looking for the link...

Try a heating pad on your sternum. I even use a hot coffee cup. It relaxes the muscles in the short-term making it easier to swallow. What did the doc say?

Stitchy, congrats on the banding! I didn't have anything significant until I went to full fluids. How much bulk is there really in Jello and tea? Take care and hope your recovery is smooth and easy.

Alicia, do you take a water pill? Diuretics pull necessary moisture from the large intestine. You may want to see a doc about your meds if this is the case. Otherwise, I agree with everyone here, drink up love.. Oh and try the shredded wheat. It's delicious.

I don't think you are psycho... Want to hear psycho? I don't think you have a crush on Jack at all. I think he asked you to post this to bait me into saying I have a mind crush on him too so he would know that legions of banded women hang on his every written word. Shame on you Poodles and Jack! Didn't think I'd see through your little plot did you?:nono: :loco:

You guessed it, dry lips. I was banded in Mexico when my home state is damp almost all the time. I woke up feeling like I had journeyed through the desert. I was parched and my lips would crack whenever I smiled, ooch. I picked some up at the pharmacy when I got my pain meds but would have liked to have had it in the hospital. I went the dress route too and was very glad I had packed one. About the hernia, I think you are lucky to get all the uncomfortable stuff done at the same time. Recovery isn't fun, but you are killing two birds with the same stone. I think you will do great, take care.

Not really a chicken lover, but the swansons broth was sooo good after all the sweet of the pre-op diet I was on. I was looking forward to beef but the canned stuff was gross, I poured it straight down the drain. Luckily I had a stroke of brilliance while still planning my surgery and decided to freeze all the fluids that came out of my crockpot. Mmmm, roast water! The garlic and rosemary flavors were comforting and incredibly substantial..for clear fluids. Add to your packing list...slip-op shoes, lipbalm, and rolling luggage.

Water is probably a huge factor for me too. Since we moved I have been drinking much less. City water is gross and I just can't bring myself to buy it (or carry it in). Guess I should get one of those faucet filters. I'll ice some up right now since that kills some of the nasty. Glad you could join us Jamie! Welcome everybody! Sorry you are with me in a stall. I scheduled a fill for the 30th. It's a wait, but will give me a chance to find and pull myself up by the bootstraps.

I don't know what to say, I wish I was closer so that it was easier to empathize. I shouldn't be the first one, you have countless friends here who love you and could give a much stronger shoulder. Sheesh, what a huge pile of nasty! Maybe you should just give her a good hug and cry with her for awhile. Make an event of it. You both have plenty to mourn. When you are all good and drained, go to the park and blow bubbles...

Who-cooks-for-you... I am an Owl too, who'da thunk I was so evolved? 9% will be reincarnated higher.

:bump: Are there really this few January bandsters? There are more, I know it. So... I will continue to troll until we snag a few more. Didn't I read a post a while ago about 'banding season'? If there is any truth to people getting bands as a resolution there should be plenty of company here. Not me, I have never been a resolution gal. My banding came about after 2 years of educating myself and my family, failing on a few more programs, and soul searching. January was a coincidence for me. Plus I was rushing to get banded before the Seattle Splash. Thanks tacwoman for joining in! Glad to hear your hair is coming back in. I used to frequent Anchorage, AK when I was a young'un. Loved it.

..Well into year twelve of my rosacea outbreak... Do you think if I went to your Doc it would go away?

Thanks StrawartS! Just wish I was running XP. No power toys for me on ME..sniff

Nope, haven't had it looked at yet. I am a MX bandster on a limited budget. Currently I am planning a fill as close to yesterday as possible so I will ask about it then. Pics wouldn't do any good P'nut, the weirdness is inside of me..*making ghost sounds* I could take a picture of me pointing to where it hurts, but that would be more for my own amusement than anything else. Thanks for trying to help.

My doc said no soaking for 6 weeks or until the scabs fall off. I didn't listen all too well and it opened one of my smaller incisions, slowing the overall healing time and widening my scar. Others have gone swimming or soaked and had no troubles. I think if you decide to 'skip ahead' you should find a good waterproof bandage to keep the scabs as dry as possible.

Thanks ladies. What I am talking about is on the left, just under my ribs. A semi-solid mound, tender to press, just over my stomach, but slightly lower than where I believe the band is placed. My actual port is just below my actual waistline. Maybe it is scar tissue, maybe it is my tubing? Just weird. Oh well. I don't think I am dying any faster than anyone else so I'll let it go. Unless it gets bigger... then I am freaking out, K?

Forget about it, I mis-read all the time. You are one of my local gals right? Check in on the NW WA page, K? Love your avatar. and back to mushies.. I loved hummous and baba ganoush (sp?) too. I almost forgot about them. The flavor just says 'real food'.

BigPaul always makes me feel really good about myself. He's funny and silly but really smart right when you need him to be. DeLarla TellyMelly keeps me motivated on days I think I want to slack and theres always a smile on my face when I'm talking to her, she just keeps me laughing. She brightens my day! Cutiern reminds me of my daughter. I love how she is young, independent, and willing to make financial sacrifices to change her life. Dawg is a great husband. Selfless and supportive. He lives a banded lifestyle, without the band, so that he may succeed along side his wife. Pennie always seems so level-headed and diplomatic. I really admire that. Jack cracks me up with the use of his warped sense of humour in the manner in which he offers practical advice. Humour and practicalilty...great match and I always appreciate his input. (I also like his avatar!!) The best me (Kathy) has one of the most loving and tender hearts I've ever seen. She is always caring and giving to others even when she's needing support for herself. Her love of God and her desire to be a better servant shows in every post. Paula is my sweet Band-daughter and I'm so proud of how genuinely sweet she is and how her caring heart and love of God shows by her actions towards all others Iluvharleys has a good heart and is always so thoughtful, kind and caring always thinking of others in their time of need. NJChick (Eileen) Cracks me up!!!! She brings a smile to my face no matter what the topic. Bandland would be a boring place without her : - ) VinesQueen reminds me never to give up no matter how bad things seem at the time and encourages me that I should dance my heart out no matter whos watching~and I wish she would hurry up and get back on LBT!!! Michelle, without a doubt the most inspirational person to me. Even while having her own family problems, she finds time to come here and offer her help. She's a great person! Susan (PhotoNut) is one of the most supportive and knowledgeable people I've ever known. EmileeKaye is the sweetest, most genuinely nice and wholehearted bandster and online personality I have ever met.. and I have met quite a few. The sun shines on her goodness and it feels really nice to surround myself with people like this. K@t has been my friend and support since the moment I joined this group. She listens and gives without asking in return and makes me feel anything is possible. DeLarla is my vision of independence, strength, wisdom and trust and has always been a person that speaks her mind and has gained a tremendous amount of respect from me as an intelligent and witty person. StrawartS is smart and funny, and she has the strong personality I admire, yet she's kind. Plus, her screen name is a Palindrome. It's spelled the same backward and forward. Very Cool. Kathy (best me) Jenna (princess n thep) is always honest and straight foward. And she is a great booty dancer. Kathy was kind and gentle with me when I was cursing over my first PB. I was shocked by her generous spirit at first, but now I see that that's how she treats everyone. And her baby is pretty cute. And I don't even like babies. The NJ Board: I can't chose just one person because so many have come to my rescue. They give their heart and soul and they do it with compasion and love. *Cheers NJ Board, I Love You ALL* Since I have known Mychevygirl (DeAnn), she has shown incredible inner strength, focus and determination in the midst of extremely trying times. She has kept a positive, happy attitude in spite of the stresses she has endured, and she has a smile that shines through her words because it comes from her heart. FunnyDuddies is a beautiful, intelligent, loving woman who's quit witt and sense of humor is a blessing to those around her. She makes me smile, and I feel so bless to call her my sis. She has also earned my respect and admiration for showing a deep inner strength during times of adversity. MoOrless is another one of my personal inspirers. She has lost weight all on her own. Reading her posts have been a great eye opener, showing me that weight loss is nothing more than willpower and self-control, which she displays very well. She cheers me on as I do my wild goose chases with myself and she keeps me motivated, letting me know daily that every goal I set for myself, no matter how outlandish it may seem, is very possible and attainable. I thank her for believing in me, (a complete stranger). Alex is the best thing ever...he has given us this board as a place to learn, laugh, commiserate, cry,...pretty much whatever we are in need of!! And...he just keeps making it better!!! Thanks, Alex!!!!!!! I have to have a second go at this! MoOrless keeps me going in ways I never thought I'd need. She is working and trying so hard to lose the weight on her own as well as coping with health problems. She finds positive ways around her setbacks that put me to shame and motivate me all at the same time. Kind words and thoughts for others come easily to her and she makes me smile. Alexandra seems to always be there when a thread gets hairy. She has the ability to listen with an open mind and heart, to sympathize and give a reality check in just a few short lines. I have noticed that she remains detached, but flexible.

My doc said that fluoro is pretty important for a first fill although my friend banded 3 years ago has had all her fills done blind. I took down that information because it is the first time I have seen a fill offered here for under $250. I was going to call the Drs. Fox in Tacoma. I am currently shopping around. I have seen Dr. Neal who has fluoroscopy but charges $350 (maybe $375, I forgot) for a first fill. NWWLS won't see foreign bandsters. Dr. Chebli is really nice and just moved to a new office, check Obesity Help for his new contact info. Lets see, I think there is another one... Nevermind, drawing a blank here at almost 1:30 am. Luck finding a good one

You are going to have to have thinned mushies? Ick. My doc would call the items you listed as full liquids. Mushies are foods that you would not need teeth to eat. drumroll...The first of the chewing phases, stow the blender, throw the straw in the garbage, ladies... I progressed from clear liquids, to full liquids, to mushies, to solids/normal foods. I was going to PM because I hate posting anything that looks like conflict, but this can be an important tidbit for members and lurkers alike. Sorry to contradict you Stitchy, but this will be good news for your post-op recovery. Congrats on the date.

How long did it take for this to soften? I have been banded nearly four months and the scar tissue (I am assuming here) under the incision is still quite solid. It feels somewhat tender and deep. Before my first fill I thought it was my port, but I know my port is significantly deeper and to the south of the port scar. Does anyone have this? Am I silly for even noticing? Could it be *secret fear alert* a pocket of drainage that never made it? ick This has probably been addressed on 'Scar Stages', I was just impatient for all the beautiful belly pics to load. If everyone could just chime in and tell me that you have scar tissue I would be grateful. Thanks.

I think the Niambi chant was a modified version of God's quote during the baptism of Jesus. "This is my beloved son, in whom I am well-pleased." "I am the daughter (one, or child) in whom God is well-pleased" I've been wrong before, but this is how I remembered it. I love the show and have been watching since season one. If they had brought back Deborah I was planning to stop watching, the woman was mentally ill. At least as far as Borderline Personality Disorder is mental illness. Tess was just too far removed from the process and stuck in the pit of Ego. Arghh, annoying... Sorry, stepping off my soapbox now. Glad to see I am not the only one watching. I got my mother addicted to the "girly-show", now we know not to call one another until after 1pm. Congrats on the Masters BTW!

Mushies is a fun phase because you can skip on the straw. The above is a great list. I enjoyed cottage cheese, yogurt, soft whole wheat pasta with most anything on it, and pretty much anything in a can. I also ate cooked veggies and a rainbow of homemade soups. Split pea, yum! I think I may just make a batch tonight, thanks for posting the question K@t. I also would snack on a teaspoon of peanut butter while reading or watching a movie. When my teeth got the urge to crunch, I would chew ice. Hope this helps, Brenda

I finally typed up the recipe for my homemade product, if you want it emailed just let me know. If anyone needs help finding an ingredient or with plant ID I'd be happy to help.

I know I need a fill because it is much harder to make the smart choices that I was able to make just last month. I am hungry much of the time and my impulse eating is beginning to return. Yesterday I went on a bandster binge that didn't end until I had inhales 3 mini-donuts and one of those waxy honeybuns. Baah! If I wasn't too big to beat my own butt, I'd do it! I know that I am procrastinating in not calling the fill doc, guess I saved up my 'last meal' and 'binge mourning' until now. I will try and yank my head from my posterior this week. K@t, it will get easier. Mushies are hard to do right and many carb dense foods are on the OK list right now. For me, carbs just bait the hunger. Watch the texture and wait for restriction. If mashed spuds are OK... MDL, I think we have much in common. I have faith that it will get easier.