barbara465

And how high up do your undies come? They have to make 4 or 5 incisions. One is a little lower than the others. They don't want to have to rearrange your underwear to comfortably get to the area they want to work around. They swap you with that iodine mixture as well to make the area sterile. They don't want to have to care what will get in the way. As my friend always says when I'm obsessing over something "Get over it". It really isn't a big deal and they really could care less. They don't want anything to get in their way or if there's an emergency. As others have said they need a sterile environment. Do you think they keep that surgical gown on you that you wear in there? Which reminds me, wear comfortable undies there so you will have them when you leave. Nothing tight. Also, I went home without a bra on, at their recommendation. I didn't wear a bra for a couple of days. Comfort over modesty in that case.

And in the future just strain the noodles and carrots out of the broth. I did this with lots of the Soups so I could get broth that tasted better than just clear broth. I also did it with Won Ton soup. They have a better flavor and a little more satisfying. Good luck on your surgery.

Haven't heard of your doctor, but I know Spiegel and Dr. Garth Davis operate there. I didn't realize that Spivak had also joined them. I wish that it had been open when I had my surgery, but the surgicenter is good as well. Where will you have your fills? Will it be there or at the surgicenter where most of us go in Houston who have Spivak and Spiegel?

It's perfectly normal. They see so much that I don't think they really look anymore. Anyway, you will be asleep so don't worry. Just something to endure to get the surgery.

I saw this link on another board and thought it was very good. It is 10 most common mistakes WLS patients make. Enjoy http://www.nawls.com/public/333.cfm

Sounds like a plan. Some bandsters can eat bread so that alone would not necessarily be an indicator. The fact that you can eat so much is probably the real factor in getting a fill. I find it interesting that you feel full with the first cup, but that you can then keep eating. That borders on what is referred to on here as pouch packing. You might want to try some behavior changes first. Stop at the 1 cup and see if you can stay full for 3-4 hours between meals. If that doesn't work then go for a fill. Good luck.

I struggle with this everyday. I am more a night time grazer. I don't think I'm even hungry. Some things I've done is drink Water as soon as I can after dinner. In some ways it fills me up. I also have tried crystal light and hot tea. I also do something with my hands. I recently went back to working jigsaw puzzles. It keeps me occupied during my "danger" time in the evening while watching TV. I tried eating the 6 meals a day and found that wasn't working. I've gone back to the 3 meals a day and a snack. I think grazing is a habit that we need to just break. Its hard, really hard to do. I go for periods of time and do really well. Then all of sudden I slip back to my old habits. Its a learning experience every day. Good luck

OK got you down. I think you can have more liquids, you just might not want to have it all at one time. I would space it out a cup at a time. That way if there is some in your pouch you won't get too much bulk at one time. Hope that makes sense. Try that bean and bacon soup. It is very filling. I blend it with a little more water to reduce its thickness. It is very satisfying. I can eat a whole can of tomato soup for instance at one meal. I just try to make sure that it is all going down and I'm not overfull or overfilling my stomach. Hope this helps.

For those wanting information on the reunion here it is: Everyone that responded agreed that the later weekend would work better for them. So the weekend has been changed: June 22-24 Las Vegas, Bally's Hotel (you can stay anywhere and just meet us there for activities) I'll get a suite reserved that sleeps 6. I already reserved one for the 7-10, but will change it. Hopefully there won't be a problem. I've already made the deposit to hold it. Anyone wishing to stay in the 2 bedroom, 1 living room suite please PM me. The cost should still be $330/person for the stay. Those wishing to reserve services for the spa for Friday June 22nd should let me know by April. I'll make the reservations then. Those wanting to go hear Celine on Saturday June 23 let me know that as well. We will have to reserve those tickets soon. You should plan on spending $200 for those tickets, but it might be a little less. If we want to sit together we need to purchase them at the same time. Payment will have to be sent to me for the tickets as I can't front that much money. It's not a big deal if you don't want to attend the Celine show. We can meet up later for a drink or you can go to another show of your choice. I've seen her show and its fantastic. I am planning on seeing it again. Remember that this is your weekend. There will be some group activities planned, but you do not have to participate in them. We will have plenty of opportunities to socialize and be together. Any and all suggestions are welcomed.

Anything goes when your sick. Your body is not burning calories at the same rate it was. Give it a few days and things should get back to normal. I'm doing badly. Since the unfill I have been hungry. Not all the time, but some of the time. I am especially hungry at night. I've not had any ice cream, but have had a few butter cookies. Got to stop this after dinner grazing. I don't think I'm even hungry, just think I should have something. I'm doing great on the water and vitamins. I also am doing OK on my portion amounts. Not doing good on exercise. I just can't get myself motivated. OK I went and bought 3 pair of shoes on Saturday. I can't keep my wide shoes on anymore. I still have a few that are comfortable, but now getting dangerous. I have on my black flats today and lost them 3 times while walking to work from the bus stop. Yes I guess it was funny, but also frustrating. I'll have to retire this pair of shoes too! Isn't it funny how are shoe size changes when we lose weight. Also, what's up with all the compliments lately. It's like all of sudden people have noticed I lost weight. I think its that I'm wearing clothes that fit. Its' really nice to get noticed. I still have a long way to go, but I'm happy for the progress. I have this roll above my waist (yes my waist came back) that just won't go away. Long line bras and waist cingers aren't doing the trick. Those just roll up and make a bigger mess. I know, I know, exercise would do the trick. Have a great day everyone.

I use the cattle call wording. That's how he runs his business. That in no way means that he isn't the best surgeon. He is. The fills are done at the surgicenter so you really don't need to see him. He was/is a great surgeon, but no real aftercare. I didn't need any extra attention, but if I do he will respond. Fills at the surgicenter are great. The staff there is very friendly and helpful. You will be asked to follow your doctor's fill instructions. That's it. It's very easy.

Julie - that is 37 lbs you'll never see again. That is a large jug of water on one of those water coolers. That is almost 4 bowling balls. Put it in perspective. It's all good.

Only to onderland. I still have another 65 lbs to lose. I decided to change my tracker to plot my progress to Onederland.

I met with a local neighborhood support group last night. Most of them had just been banded, the longest one 3 months. What a difference in perspectives from less than 3 months to 7.

I hope this answers the questions/requests for my response. There is nothing more for me to say on the subject.

We just changed it for March. Several of us that were there last night will be out of town the first Monday. We can go back to the 1st Monday in April.

Welcome Craig. I'm sure you will start losing and enjoying your new life. There are several support groups in various areas of town, in addition to the one that Dr. Spiegel has. Good luck on your journey.

OH Carlene I think you are in a no win situation. Mr. P is not acting right and your DH is his friend. Anything you say or do will go against your DH. Maybe you should just refuse to discuss it with him. Tell your DH that you don't want updates of Mr. P's relationship or doings. Tell DH to just let you know when Mrs. P passes on so you can attend the funeral. DH can honor your situation by socializing with Mr. P on his own and away from your home. You don't have to like or condone Mr. P's actions. You shouldn't have to compromise your principles. However, you need to make sure that this doesn't drive a wedge between you and DH. Your not in an easy position.

I've marked my calendar. It was great meeting all of you last night. It is so much more fun sharing the experience with others than doing this alone. We can all learn from each other and get support when we need it.

Until your daily life settles down your DD will probably have trouble. How could she not? She is having to live the drama of your life. I don't see that you have many choices since you can't get him to leave temporaily until the judge orders the settlement. Again, I just wouldn't worry about the credit rating right now. I wouldn't be bailing him out of debt he is not paying. Wait until the judge orders the settlement. If he doesn't want her to be getting free lunches he knows what he can do about it. Stay strong. You have about 6 weeks before court. You can do this.

For those interested in Celine Dion. I just checked at there is very limited tickets, even at $170 for the weekend of June 23rd. We might be able to get some at that price if there was interest. Since many are price conscious it might not be a good idea to plan a show. They are very expensive and some may not want to pay that price. We probably could get Bally's to give us a decent price on their show. It's pretty good and not as expensive. Let me know what the interests are so we can make the plans.

So you know how you speed read? I, we, just added the letters to get socialgal. I'm glad you are feeling better. I've seen some comments about nasal drip and I think they were drinking pineapple juice, hot tea, to clear the passages from mucous. I'll be happy to change the weekend for Vegas to get more participants. Cast your votes and we'll see what we get. I've already paid to hold the reservation for the suite. If staying in the suite as long as I know we have 6, then I can get paid in Vegas. Remember, anyone can come, and the last minute is fine also. If you can get there, and make hotel reservations, its fine. We might not be able to add anyone at the last minute to the suite, or to the spa, or to the show, but still come. We may be able to, just might not be sitting together.

If your interested the trip was first mentioned on July 28th, post #985, pg 66, by Chako Lady. I responded in post #989, same day, several pages later. Conversations went from there. Dshield was one of the guys, and a travel agent, who offered his services on 8/1. This trip goes back to almost the beginning. OK I'm off of this now and back to my regularly scheduled lapband journey.

Not sure if I should even bother to respond to the posts, but I will try to set the record straight. A reunion of the Junebies was discussed the first few months of our existence. It was something to look forward to as we started our journies. It was brought up again a few months ago. There were several suggestions - Sedona, Las Vegas, a spa somewhere. The place that got the most votes was Las Vegas. I asked those that wanted to go to PM me so I could get a headcount. I got about 4 responses and several verbal or through posts. Through posts everyone wanted to go to the spa and see a show. Many wanted free time to do what they wanted to do. Thus, Las Vegas was born with a spa day on Friday and a show on Saturday. I shopped the hotels and came up with Bally's. It is on the strip, moderately priced, and centrally located. I used my connection and reserved a suite that consists of two bedrooms and a living room. The entire suite sleeps 6 and will cost about $330 a person. I asked for those that wanted to stay in the suite to let me know. I have PinkyLee, Melissa, and myself. Barbara12 is getting her own "free" comp room nearby. So, there is room for 3 more in the suite. The suite allows us to have a place to meet and socialize without having to be in a restaurant or bar. It was MY idea, so if it turns out to be a bad move, I can cancel it and everyone can just get their own rooms. As the discussion progressed it appeared that of those going they were not taking their husbands, so I told mine he could stay home. Some are single and that's not an issue. That meant that the suite was for women only to make them feel comfortable. It was in no way meant that husbands, boyfriends, significant others, etc. were not welcomed or invited. This weekend I got a PM from PinkyLee asking if the trip could be moved from June 7-10th to June 15-17th so they could see Celine. That is not a good weekend since it's Father's day. It will have to be June 22-24. I'm asking for votes and if anyone has bought their airfare yet. Certainly don't want to change it if someone has gotten their air. Now, I am one of the older bansters. I'm also a project manager, which makes me want to organize and keep things on schedule. I was asked in a public post to organize this. I did. This trip was NEVER exclusive to older bandsters living in Houston or just older. Sorry Melissa that you are being lumped with us older bandsters since you are so young. Guilty by association I guess. This was to be a fun trip, by all those that wanted to go. There will always be those that can't go for whatever reason, or simply don't want to. That's OK and to be expected. However, it was open to all June bandsters. I was even trying to make sure that the men were not excluded. We did have a couple of men in the Junebies, but haven't heard from them lately. I was having my husband organize golf for those that wanted to do that. No one came forward, so I let him off the hook for organizing that. So finally, all that want to come are welcome. All that want to stay in the suite of rooms please PM me. Those that are coming, but staying in your own accomodations let me know. I want to make reservations for all that want to attend the Spa day on Friday. I'm leaving it the weekend of June 8-10th unless there are enough of you that want it changed. Just let me know. Please in the future get all the facts before members of this group are slammed. I am just trying my best to make it a fun weekend for all that attend. I may be ancient, but I have feelings as well. You don't like what I'm doing just PM me.

You can keep your cheat free card Poodles. Free passes are always given for Birthdays! I've made it through the month so far and no ice cream. I've done pretty good, but did have some animal crackers last night. I like plain cookies. It's harder for me on the weekends because I don't have the structure of the workday. I got my water in, but really had to work at it. It has been suggested that we go to Vegas the second weekend in June so we can seel Celine. She is not there when we are scheduled. Give me your feedback. Should we keep the date we have or change? I don't think there is a problem getting the suite for that weekend.