minidriver

I was banded on the 2nd and have lost about 7.5 lbs. I gained 3 right after but then that plus the 7.5 all came off last week. I'm still really bloated and gassy. I've never passed this much gas in my entire life. It's soooo embarrassing.

I was banded 7/2 and I do have some hunger, but then am able to satisfy it pretty easily. I have been faithfully keeping track of everything I eat (well, drink at this point), and have been getting in 800-900 calories per day. Any less than that and I don't really feel well. I am having some head hunger, but it usually subsides if I quit looking at all those yummy things I can't have. I start mushies tomorrow though, and I have to say that I'm really looking forward to it. I hope I don't overendulge.

Well, by the time your ass shows up, everyone else's asses will be a little bit smaller, so we'll squeeze you in somehow. :huh2:

Hey, good luck tomorrow to gbear and lotza!!! Scoot over everybody! More losers comin' to the bench!

Hi fit. I'm not an alcoholic, but my son is and I've watched him struggle for many years. First, I think your doc or pdoc really MUST support you with your detox . . . at least psychologically. But I'm not sure they'll give you something addictive (like Ativan). Do you have health insurance? They may authorize an inpatient detox for you for a few days. Second, once you are detoxed and at least 7 days sober, ask about one of the new medications for alcoholism. My son is on naltrexone, and it works wonders. Helps manage the cravings and, when he has slipped up, it has been a tiny slip that he has managed to get under control. There's another newer med as well but I can't remember the name right now. Your pdoc should know, and if not you should insist that he look it up!!! Of course there is hope. You're the one in charge, and if you've decided to get sober you CAN get sober. It's not easy, but nothing is. Good luck to you. Alcoholism is so difficult, and you have my sympathy.

When I click on the place right above mine where it says tickerfactory or whatever, it takes me right to the place I need to go to change it.

Lap - gorgeous!!!!

You're right about the Kathy Griffin thing. I kept thinking that woman looked familiar! My knees and feet SUCK! While I haven't lost enough yet to comment, a few years ago I lost 30 lbs (then gained it back) but it made a huge difference in my knee and foot pain while the weight was gone, so I think it definitely makes a difference. I have hip problems too. I'm "double-jointed", so I have very lax tendons. The combo of extra weight and no support from my tendons has really taken a toll. I am soooo hoping that this will take care of some of the pain.

OMG!! Wow, you deserve about a hundred hugs right now. You have waaayyy too much crap going on for any one person. I wish I had something magic to say to make things better but, of course, I don't. But what an incredible victory for you to realize that you want to self-sabatoge and coming up with ways to stop yourself. That takes an amazing amount of strength.

Thanks Miss Munchkin. I'm looking forward to meeting the potential new fur baby but don't want to get my hopes up. Ya know.

Yes, a fill will be great. Get rid of those pesky 10 lbs! Then get rid of more!!! We're meeting a new potential furry housemate tomorrow. She's the same sort of doggie as our Keeley - Australian Kelpy mix, same age, foster mom says she's a very sweet, obedient girl. I worry that Keeley would be way too jealous of another doggie though . . . we'll see how she reacts to our initial meeting.

Well, if your daughter has already lectured you, then I will just wish you all the happiness you soooo deserve.:cursing:

Howdy doody everybody! Well, I'm back from out of town. It was a blast. Our "treehouse tent" is soooo cool. Well, there is so much to catch up on, so I'll try not to miss anybody: Happy happy birfday to brandy and woofay!! Woohoo for birfday girls! Shelbi, sorry you're not losing right now, but it's temporary. Really. You know it will get better when you can get a fill. dee - oh so intriguing about "the guy". I'm dying to hear more. On the topic of anti-depressants - quick lesson from neuroscience. If this bores you, please skip to the next paragraph. Anyhoo, all new learning happens in a part of the brain called the hippocampus. Cells in the hippocampus are very "plastic", meaning they can make new connections very easily. In addition, we actually make NEW cells in hippocampus throughout our lifespan (neurogenesis). These NEW cells presumably play a big role in our ability to continue learning. Now then, along comes stress and the nasty neurochemicals we release into our brains and bodies when we're stressed out. Our hippocampus neurons are very sensitive to stress hormones - after all, it's important that we LEARN from stressful situations so we can avoid them in the future. This was a good thing back when "stress" was a reaction to something very scary and very short-lived (being chased by a lion, for example). Now, however, stress is a day to day constant grinding thing that never seems to end. And those stress chemicals actually DAMAGE our hippocampal cells. Those chemicals even prevent the birth of new cells in hippocampus. So what happens? We get STUCK. Our brains can't learn anything new. So we're stuck in whatever stressed out bummed out state we were in with no way to LEARN a different way to think. Well, guess what antidepressant medications do for you? They restore the brain's ability to make new hippocampal neurons and (presumably) help damaged neurons to function again. Thus, your brain once again has the ability to learn something new. Combine that with therapy or meditation or whatever you do that helps your head, and you're on the road to feeling lots better. PS - the studies about neurocampal cells and antidepressants are done with animals. We can't test this in living human brains, but the evidence is pretty strong. Okay, so if you made it through that paragraph (and even if you didn't) antidepressant drugs can play a VERY important role in recovering from depression. Been on 'em for 15 years, with no intent to go off them anytime soon. If I needed insulin, I would sure as heck take it and not feel bad about it. Yes, my ticker has moved. Losing weight like crazy right now! Newbies - I am 11 days postop and feel great. A few twinges of pain, kinda' sick of liquids, but the weight loss in very enforcing. Woohoo!!!!

Dork, that is fantastic news about your PCP. Sounds like things are moving in the right direction. And how wonderful that you'll be able to have fills in Tuscon. Marcy, you look fabulous! Huge difference. 50 lbs is a bunch of weight and it is gone gone gone. Good morning, Mal. How is Buster today? We are thinking of getting another doggie so our Keeley has a friend. I'll keep you guys updated. Well, off to our property. YAY!

I'm 8 days post op and so bloated I can't wear hardly anything. I really do look pregnant. It's awful. I'm having some really small movements but wonder if some fiber would help. I am losing weight now though. I'm also more sore than I had anticipated. Especially my biggest incision. I mean, it's not horrible, but I can definitely tell I had surgery there. Is anybody else still sore?

Hey everybody. Just a quick post. Brandy, so happy to hear that your FIL is doing so well. Bahot, the concert sounded like a blast. And congrats on the check outs!! Munchkin, you totally seem like you want to stay on nights. Just because other people think days are better doesn't mean a thing. You need to do what works for you. And I would sure be loathe to give up 400 per month. FW (and other preops lurking out there), you are getting so close!! Woohoo!!! I can't believe I'm already 8 days past surgery! We're going to our property this weekend so I'll be out of touch. Miss you guys! Talk to you soon!

brandy - sending lots of good vibes to you and yours. get some rest . . . sounds like the worst is over.

I'm sorry you're bored Missy Munchkin. Before you spend so so much money on that mouthguard, try going to your local sporting goods store and buying a mouthguard that you heat in boiling water and then put in your mouth to conform to your bite. Couldn't hurt and might save you some bucks. So I have decided that I am now the puree gourmet. I can only stand so many protein drinks on full liquids, and I've been trying some different things. Yesterday I made a salmon bisque that was just lovely. Tonight I made a cold cucumber soup seasoned with dill. It was soooo good and I was so happy to have the taste of a vegetable in my mouth!! Woohoo!! DH even ended up having it for dinner and loved it. And, of course, I made a watermelon granita the other night and have been having a bit every night for a treat. I must say, I'll be happy to reach mushies though. I would love to be able to chew just a little . . .

Sid- it's so funny that you just posted this cuz last night I was looking at my abdomen in the mirror and thought "what the $%^# is that weird lump below my center incision? It looks like a huge egg or something"! So I looked at some other threads on here and someone else had posted that they had the same thing and they went to the doc and the doc said "relax, it's your port". So I'm assuming that the tissue around the port swells up in the shape of the port. PS- I just received my link for the EMMI video yesterday:cool2:

That's awesome. I admire English teachers who have all that patience to hand write comments on papers and such. I am awful. I have my students send everything electronically and then I include my comments electronically. I think I've forgotten how to use a pen. Posting pics: When you go to the reply screen to type a response, you'll see a paper clip insignia in the tool bar. If you click it, it will give you the option to attach a file from your computer. So if you have pics on your computer, you can just browse for them and upload them and VOILA! there they are. That's as much as I know how to do, but it works for me.

I bought some of the instant a while back and it just didn't do it for me. It didn't have that nutty texture and taste that I love. But that's just me.

Sometimes that's what you have to do with those "difficult" kids. Shelbi, Shelbi, Shelbi.

I'm doing ggggggrrrrrreat!! I taught two sessions of 8th grade science camp last night and it wore me out a bit more than I had anticipated . . .I guess I need to remember that I just had surgery! I've lost all the surgery weight plus a couple pounds more and am not even really minding the full liquid phase. Right now I'm sipping a chocolate and banana protein shake. Yesterday I made myself a salmon bisque soup that was loverly. The Loser's Bench is a wonderful place to hang. And Shelbi hasn't poked me in the side ONCE!!!

Lotza, I'm glad you're feeling better today. Omelets are a great thing to eat right now . . . so satisfying and yummy.

Amen, sista' dee. Lotza, the night before my surgery I had a salad that was covered with STEAK! Everyday I ate meat and cheese and veggies and almonds and all kinds of good stuff and I did NOT let myself go hungry. Hubby and I went to IHOP and I had a huge veggie omelet and a side of bacon instead of hash browns and toast. YOU CAN DO THIS!!! Look at all the people on this board who have made it through this process and totally changed their lives. YOU CAN DO IT TOO! Now go eat a piece of cheese or some nuts or whatever will make you fill less hungry and remember why you are doing this and how WONDERFUL it will be in the end.