debbieperez55

Thanks Teri. I think the prayers have helped. You are just a few days before me. As far as I can tell, we are embarking on a fantastic journey. I can't wait, obviously I really need this. And I guess I was right all along. Wait an epithamy - I have been doing this for my health all along, it was never for beauty or to be thin, thin wasn't even in my vocabulary. Health, but now I guess I am doing it for my heart. :shades_smile: Health is where the Heart is or something like that. My Father had three bypass surgeries, my younger brother had a heart attack at 32 and now at 50 he had a stent place in his artery. We have a family history of cornery artery disease. I need to get healthy. So now it is going to be me and little "Antonio Banderous" Thanks again:redface: Debbie

You guys are too much! But I am so glad we have you to guide us through this. Glad to hear you are doing so FANTASTIC!!!!! I am SOOO glad to hear that you are missing the "hunger". But GG - be careful, stay hydrated. We need you! And, most important, walk. For some reason it moves the gas. And I guess it is going to come out - one way or another. I looked over the list. My how we have grown. Take care. Debbie

Hey, thanks everyone. I guess this is why I need support. I cannot tell you how wonderful it was to be hugged by so many. I went for my second EKG and they kept me for 8 hours doing tests. After all the hoopla it was discovered that it is not current. They let me look at the other one, but not this one. Went to my Dr and he is having trouble getting a copy. I am going to complain to my insurance. How can they not have a copy of a STRIP of EKG paper! I also gave my Dr the referral for the Cardiologist. My surgery is not cancelled or even on hold. I go Monday to have my PreOp from the Surgeon. They gave me Ativan for anxiety to help me not freak out until we know what is happening. WHAT - ME, jump to conclusions and freak out???? I would never do that!?!?!?!? lol So I guess this is really a blessing. I had a heart attack and didn't know it and I would never have known if I had not decided to take this path. Now I can get the band, get healthy, and they can now watch my heart. Wait - I think I can say this without haveing a huge anxiety attack now, I had a heart attack. Okay, maybe a little anxiety, funny how that feeling of panic just ran through me. But knowing is much better than not knowing. I don't know what I would do without all of you. And - I can't wait to join the happy club of the BANDED. September 19 is right aroung the corner!

Hey GG, how are you feeling. I loved your Utube. You are my inspiration! After all you are first! I can't believe so many have gone this first week, how fantastic! So how is it REALLY Feeling much better today. Tuesday after the EKG I stressed out so bad. Wednesday I had an anxiety attack and to boot had an episode of very low blood sugar. My emotions effect my sugar and since I couldn't eat because of the anxiety attack I was on a rollar coaster. Thursday when I went in for that test, it was just the end. I started to cry when they wouldn't just do the test like my Dr said. Then after the test which was abnormal they just kept me monitored until two blood tests 6 hours apart showed no current damange. Today I told my Dr Office that the Dr threatened to cancel my surgery if I left without her approval. So they - My regular Dr talked to me today, what has happened has happened. I guess they see it as I need this more than ever. Because of family history I need to be on statins, but I can't right now because of "fatty liver". Anyway just have to see a Cardiologist now, but Monday is my Pre Op with the Surgeon and The Nutritionist. I am to go forward as if all is a GO! Always a September Samurai! Debbie

Ok, the stress is getting to us - I spent 9 hours in urgent care trying to get my EKG redone, per Drs orders. I tried to leave, THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG, but I was told that if I did she would say I left against Dr Orders and she would cancel my surgery. They have a protocal they have to follow. A FAT WOMAN SHOULD NEVER GO INTO A HOSPITAL OR URGENT CARE AND THEN SAY YOU NEED A EKG BECAUSE YOUR OTHER ONE WAS ABNORMAL. THEY FREAK OUT!!!!! Well I still have a abnormal EKG. I did have a silent heart attack but not recently. They won't forward the results to my personal Dr. I am now in Ativan for anxiety. MMMmmm I wonder who stressed me out! lol

Well I had my Stress EKG and Heart Ultrasound, it was cool to see your heart beating. I failed my EKG. Looks as though I have had, at one time, a heart attack. I don't know where I stand, but this might put an end to my Quest. I have to call and see my Dr and take him the "magic readout". I guess there are some Cardiac Blood tests I need to have. I will update later.

I am so upset. I am scared. My father had three bypasses, my younger brother had a heart attack at 32. He recently had a stent put in place. I can't call my Mom because she will be upset, I can't call my Daughter because she will freak out, but she is going to be pissed that I didn't tell her. My husband hates Doctors, but this time I think he sees it as a blessing. Maybe it is a silent heart attack, but not a bad one. I went on the internet - BAD CHOICE, NEVER LOOK THIS STUFF UP ON THE INTERNET. So I sit her ready to cry, okay crying now, because I know that bad stuff that it can be. I know I could have dropped dead and it was all my fault because I never lost weight even knowing I had predisposition. I know that I might have some bad stuff down the road, I know I have ignored some chest pains, because it always hurts. I have GERD and Gastritis. I know this and more and yet - it's all my fault. I did this to myself. I caused this, I ate myself into this. I know depressing self destructive talk, but I am so upset. How can they tell you that at the Urgent Care, where I had to go to get the EDG, and then tell you to go home. I called my Dr and he hasn't returned my call, talk about feeling rejected. So now, I will dry my eyes and know this self pitty crap off. Thanks for listening. When I said I felt blue, I guess I wasn't kidding. Haven't cried like that for a while. Debbie Oh the good news, I have lost almost 20 pounds on my pre op diet.

Thank you for your help. I greatly appreciate it.

I am so happy for you. Congradulations! You are on your way

I had my stress test today, passed. Did my Chest XRAy, can you really fail a chest XRay? My EKG - shows a probable inferior infarction. A heart attack! :thumbup: I guess not now, but I have had one. sometime. Anyone else with this problem? Any support would be appreciated.:party: I can't see my Dr until tomorrow. At least my panic attack is gone. Feeling very blue and scared.:sad: Debbie

My Doctor had put me on Cholestrol Meds. They check your liver function. Well, it seems my liver tests raised up - a lot. My Doc told me I had fatty liver and it could cause problems and that I needed to loose weight. I didn't of course. So we waited and he checked them again. Still elavated. I had to cut down on the Cholestrol Meds, but still bad liver tests. Finally he told me I might have to go off the Meds, I thought he said to so I did. Well when my next liver test came back crappy he said well I guess you will need to go off the meds. You should have seen his face when I told him I already had. This was right after I had spoken to him about the band. So now I checked out Fatty Liver and found out what the real name is and how bad it is. And yes, it can kill your liver, which you can't live without. So when the Surgeon spoke at the Seminar about shrinking the liver, I knew I was in deep do do. Anyway here is the defination. I don't drink so it freaks me out, I have seen an alcholic liver. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) refers to a wide spectrum of liver disease ranging from simple fatty liver (steatosis), to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), to cirrhosis (irreversible, advanced scarring of the liver). All of the stages of NAFLD have in common the accumulation of fat (fatty infiltration) in the liver cells (hepatocytes). In NASH, the fat accumulation is associated with varying degrees of inflammation (hepatitis) and scarring (fibrosis) of the liver. The term nonalcoholic is used because NAFLD and NASH occur in individuals who do not consume excessive amounts of alcohol. Yet, in many respects, the histological picture of NAFLD (when we look at a biopsy piece of liver under the microscope) is similar to what can be seen in liver disease that is due to excessive intake of alcohol. As we shall see, however, the clinical circumstances in NAFLD and NASH are very different from those in alcoholic liver disease (ALD).

I spoke to my Pharmacist. I am also going to ask the Dr. Maybe the little balls will just slip on down with Water, but I was told NOT to crush those pills. But you should speak to your Doctor for sure

Teri, CONGRADULATIONS - THAT IS FANTASTIC! You have made ENORMOUS progress! Keep up the excellent work. You Deserve more than just one thumbs up! :laugh::thumbs_up::cool2::thumbs_up::w00t: :thumbup:

I started getting scared. I only had 10-15 pounds to loose but a few weeks ago I had gained 2 pounds. I kicked myself in the butt for the self destructive behaviour and I am on a strict diet, liquid for 2 meals and 1 light protien and veggie meal. I can't wait until tomorrow, they had better have a scale, I have my Stress EKG, Echo Cardiogram and all my remaining tests. I know I have lost. What keeps me going, fear of opening me up and saying SORRY LIVER IS TOO BIG. I have fatty liver so I am freaked out. Anyway I think I am going to surpass his requirement, all the better in the end.

Thank you, I checked out chewable Vitamins today. They have adult, when I asked about kids, they told me you would have to take three or four. Guess that is a bad deal. I don't like liquid meds so I am going to have to crush. But my goal is to get smaller and smaller dosages down the road. Already my Blood Pressure is down. It is around 100/60 consistantly so I may have to cut one pill in half as it is. Who would have thought 10 to 15 pounds would make a difference. Good Grief!

I wish you all the best and you will be in my thoughts. You are going to do great! Take care Debbie

Do they taste nasty??? I know - what a big baby. I remember when my Mother In Law had a stroke we crushed her pills and put them in applesause. No can do on the liquid phase. Now I wish I took less pills.

Actually I think I ate him!:biggrin: Mighty taste too :wink2:

I know we have to crush pills. BUT - when you are on the liquid diet, how do you take bitter crushed pills? Are capsules okay? I take Metaform or whatever that stupid name is and it is HUGE. Also, my blood pressure pill is huge. And how do you crush them? My Pharmacy compounds and will make things for me, but will insurance cover? I guess I am just freaking out again.

I am now 1 week free of Diet Pepsi. I have drank diet sodas for 35 years, Weight Watchers told me I could drink all the diet sodas I wanted, so I did - egads. Any the addiction was strong and I weined myself off, but I was told NO CARBONATED drinks. They will stretch your pouch and are very counter productive. Besides I have had chronic gastritis and GERD for years and years. No more pain and I haven't had reflux in over a week. Amazing, maybe I should have listened to the Doctors years ago, nothing like a diet pepsi first thing in the am.

Good Luck to all of you.

Do you have your date yet? There are so many Doctor's doing this now. Personally I really didn't have a choice, HMO. They did let me have a second opinion since the first Dr was a - sorry that word just slipped off the page, must be big brother watching.:wink2: Anyway good luck!

As much as I love Shrink, especially since I just had my Psyc Consult, I have to give you :thumbup: for Stanley. Stanley is a FANTASTIC name. Maybe I should name mine Waldo. I was in High School. We were running the 50 yard dash and I ran my heart out. One VERY cute boy :tt1: started yelling 'GO WALDO GO":blushing:. Well all the Jocks were there, the name stuck, I had that damn nickname all through high school. :biggrin: I remember he came up to me during GRADUATION and apologized for giving me that nick name. :thumbdown: It's about time I put Waldo to good use! :wink2:

Local time in Brussels, Belgium is 2:59 AM, Monday, Sep 01, 2008 GG if you read this, I am thinking of you! =================================================== Not sure about any of you, but I am going nuts. I keep thinking about GG and I had to know the time difference. Looks like 9 hours for PST. Only a few hours to go. GG was the first person who responded to one of my postings and I feel a connection. I wish I could be there with her.

Keep up the good work. It is hard, but we have our goal just up ahead. I think we all have to shrink that stupid liver. Just do the best you can. I have been drinking Crystal Light, makes my tap water taste better. Maybe something like this would be okay for you.