Lanakila

ML, I haven't had any difficulties like this but I've read in many places on this board that whenever you are denied you should appeal. These appeals have been VERY successful. Good wishes in your journey!

A hearty welcome to lellow! Love the colorful duckie... My hubby and I are members of a social club that is centered around the multiculturalism of Hawai'i. Most members have lived there, come from a family who lived there, or just love hanging out with folks. We all get together about 9 times a year at private homes in the summer and in a rental hall once the weather changes. Being related to the Islands, food is CENTRAL to any gathering. The potlucks are over the top! Funny how it works out whenever I host...I eat nearly nothing! I ate a small sweet while I was fanning away bugs from one of the food tables (we were on the lawn.) After that, I was just too busy talking to eat All of our friends from the club knew I was doing the research on the lapband so I had some big news to share with them yesterday with my sx now being scheduled. We don't have a get together in August because it's going back to school time, hotter than hell in the South, and it just makes us anticipate our annual lu'au in Sept. even more. This year I will be 2 weeks post-op for that party. I hope to feel ok to at least sit in. Fortunately we will have poi so I'll have something that I will be able to eat since I'll just be starting mushies. It'll be great to have so many supporters on hand for my first huge food challenge! When I built the roster for our thread I noticed that Claudine was from Raleigh so I PM'd her. Turns out we live within 2 miles of each other!!!

Sign me up for that soda-anon! I'm not going to be banded until the end of August, but I am already grieving the loss of a few things in my mind. Soda is definitely at the top of the list but I also agree that I'm going to miss the serotonin kick that I get when I'm "fat-n-happy" after a meal. "Healthy-n-Happier" here I come!

You are here now and WE are delighted to have you! I have found it very, very comforting to have this place to be able to ask my stupid questions, share my excitement and, of course, gripe sometimes. Welcome!

Congrats on your date! Stop by the August 2008 board and introduce yourself. We'd love to have you join us!

Here is a tutorial. The video quality isn't good, but you'll probably at least be able to get the idea. http://www.lanakilaalexander.com/images/lbtsigtutorial.wmv The football sig is the same address except /images/augsports.jpg The ballcap sig... /images/AAScap.gif The flag sig... /images/augustallstarsglitters.gif The heartbeat star sig... /images/augustallstarsglitters1.gif The flower sig... /images/augustword.jpg Not sure if any of this will help, but I thought I'd try.

As far as I know I don't have to do one, but I'm supposed to see the doc 6 days before the Sx so I'd imagine he'd have me start one then. I'm going to TRY to do a whole two weeks before though. I think it would be a good way to train my head, you know? Plus, I'd be horrified if they had to do an "open" because they couldn't get around in there. In fact, I'm not going to approve that as an option when I sign my pre-op papers. If they cannot get it in lap, I'll just have them close me back up. It's six weeks away, but inside I'm still a little excited :thumbdown:

I'm a doof too...and I didn't want to make an account (even if free) on Photobucket, so I've parked the banner on my server at www[dot]lanakilaalexander[dot]com/images/augustallstarsglittery1[dot]gif. It wouldn't let me type it on here with the dots or it actually puts the link on there. You are welcome to add it to your signature. Both this or photobucket should work just fine.

Updates? Additions? Dunno why it won't let me post an image directly in here...but check out the roster at www.lanakilaalexander.com/images/ncroster.jpg

Keep sendin' those updates and I'll get you on the list!

Yippeeeeeeee! :wub: I really like the first one but, I LOVE the way the star is kinda like a heartbeat in the second one. Can I have the URL for that, or would you like me to put it on my server and just share the URL with everyone?

I'm a fan of lettering that is "filled" with some kind of design instead of being solid. Kinda like the glittery ones just filled with something else. I also really liked the use of a star as the hyphen in All-Stars. Not that it matters...but green is my fav color.

I GOT A DATE! Pending ins approval, which the coordinator nearly laughed at when I asked about it, I'll give it all a go on the 28th. They could have done it the 20th, but that's the week that school starts here at the U so I couldn't do it. Too bad...I'd have loved to get an earlier start.

I GOT A DATE! Pending ins approval, which the coordinator nearly laughed at when I asked about it, I'll give it all a go on the 28th. They could have done it the 20th, but that's the week that school starts here at the U so I couldn't do it. Too bad...I'd have loved to get an earlier start. I just BARELY squeaked in to the August group. Woulda been a shame if I hadn't made it, huh?

Yippeeeeeee! When's your date?

I watched that vid on YouTube too. I had a good idea of what was going to be done, but "ick". I see enough fat with my skin on top and looking at it directly was just ewwwwww. Plus, that patient had a BMI of 38 or something, right? I'm like a 49.5 and that's only if I know a few days in advance that I have to be weighed! BUT, I couldn't turn away...it was toooo cool!

Nina, You are right, it is difficult to read meanings in email and boards sometimes. I, personally, thought that you were a little testy in your messages but I'm really happy to hear that it wasn't your intention. I've been guilty of being a little abrupt in person, so I can only imagine how I come off on here sometimes. You are definitely better at graphics than I am. I've been trying and trying to duplicate the style of graphic that folks are tinkering with because I'm not a "glittery" kind of gal. I love the name, and I love the style except for that. I tried to go on the same site to look for a quieter alternative, but none were to be found. We also have several guys on the board that would probably like an alternative. Nothing against the glittery ones...just not so much for me, you know? Will you give it a shot? I'll keep trying to come up with something too and we'll post a few up here for sharing. I have a server, so folks can just insert the URL and it'll appear in their sig line.

There really isn't anything "off-topic" on this board :biggrin2:For me, no-bake cookies have cocoa, oats, milk, vanilla, splenda and some kind of binder (butter or crisco-ish.) I mix it all up in a bowl, do spoonful drops on waxed paper, and then let them "dry" either on the counter or in the fridge until they firm up a bit. There are some good recipes at cooks.com. Just query no-bake cookie.

:lol:Was the Drs. first name really Professor?

I'll keep my eyes peeled. Even if you are lucky enough to get set up with one from Mommie, I'm sure that you aren't the only one looking. I'm not the kind of gal to jack up the prices or anything...just wanna help out my fellows!

It's awesome to be able to "talk" to everyone on this thread! Is anyone having trouble with the email subscription link back to threads not working? I'm really irritated that my links are only pointing back to the main page. Grrrrr...sometimes it's hard to find other threads that I've posted on so if I want to see replies I just subscribe so that I'll get updates. With it not working, it seems to just defeat the purpose, no? Fortunately, I have this board bookmarked and I lurk on it pretty much all day! 'nuff griping about that...now to gripe about something else! I cannot seem to get in touch with my coordinator! I finished what, I hope, will be my last test on Tuesday, and I just want to find out if she now has all of the reports and stuff (ok, and I secretly want to make a date.) I'm trying to be "nice" and wait until this afternoon before I try to call her again. I don't want to pester her more than once a day.... I tried a new Protein last night. The Syntha-6 chocolate mixed in 8 oz of skim was absolutely fabulous. I don't know what kind of thickener they use, but it was alot less watery textured than some shakes. My hubby tasted (he's a good sport) and said that this one was definitely tolerable. Nice review, huh? Actually, that's a pretty good review from him Off to work...ttyl

As a graduate of Peay, I thought I'd send a shout out to a Tucka-see-n. I'm in NC now, but it's fun to see Clarksville in print :cool2: I'm on regular psych meds so I was very, very concerned about how best to manage my meds. My doc told me that the only issue would be if I were taking an XR or extended release version of a med. Otherwise, crushing them should not be having an effect. I'd guess that your depressive episode is probably just a side-effect of ALL of the stimulation that you've had over the last several weeks. Imagine how the excitement and nerves got you all wound up, and then the pain and post-op swinging you around like you were square dancing. I'm not a professional, but that would be what I'd think if it were me suffering like you are. Hang in there, sweetie!

I bought a zillion samples from www.vitalady.com a couple of weeks ago so that I could experiment before I actually "needed" them. I've enjoyed the ProBlend 55 and Syntha-6 chocolates. I've discovered that all of the vanillas are icky (IMO) unless they are put into oatmeal or cream of wheat. I also tried an Atkins milk chocolate ready-made shake and it was pretty good. To be honest with you, the Atkins stuff is plenty good enough. I don't know if I could use it for maintenance, but I'm pretty sure that I could do ok with it for 2-3 weeks. Hope this helps!

Six pounds is fantastic! I know it's hard to be optimistic when you are frustrated, but I agree with everyone else that you should focus on your body healing right now. It's kinda graphic, but there's a great vid on YouTube that shows the actual surgery. If you an stomach it (haha), you might be more patient with yourself. After you see what your poor abdomen has been through, you'll actually want to give it a rest. Hang in there sweetie....

Do you drink with your meals?