TheGh0st

Start by trying to drink something warm in small sips. My personal favorite when I have a sore throat is hot (and very dark) tea mixed with Tang Orange mix, but anything warm should help. The warmth of the liquid should help thin out the mucus so it can get through the band (Gross image I know). There is also a belief that getting sick like this can irritate the tissues and cause swelling making you feel tighter when you are sick. The warm fluids may help with that swelling as well. I am NOT a doctor nor do I play one on TV so I don't know the science or validity behind my statements. But I have found it made me feel better in the past. You might also want to call your band doc and see if they would be willing to squeeze you in for a small unfill if it doesn't get better soon. You don't want to risk any complications with the band due to your cold/flu making it too tight right now.

Julie - I'm not sure if you may have misread Living's post or are possibly just poking fun back at her. Just in case, Living didn't use the quote button correctly. She was actually trying to criticize Tiki's original post. I agree with Living. It is odd that someone would find this thread and take the time to sign up just to post such a ignorant comment then disappear which looking at Tikki's profile info is exactly what appears to have happened.

OMG! That is terrible! And I promise as soon as I can get myself back up off the floor from laughing so hard I can't breathe, I will send you the most appropriate condolences. Part of my hysterics are because your stoy reminded me of the last time my grandmother (God rest her soul) took a flight to California to visit her sister. She was a very large lady herself and always waited until she landed to go to the restroom but this time she just couldn't wait and decided to risk going on the plane. But wouldn't you just know it though as she was sitting on the too small seat they hit an air pocket and her Derrière became firmly stuck in the seat. She couldn't get out to save her life and was too proud to call for help. (Lord help me I'm laughing while I write this) She ended up sitting in the loo all the way until the plane landed and a flight attendant found her still sitting there. They tried everything to get her out, pulling, lubricating, eventually they had to physically cut the toilet off her. It just goes to show no matter how bad you've got it someone else has been there, done that and even worse. Seriously, we all have at least one if not a dozen similar stories that led us to this point in our lives. And it WILL get better. I look forward to seeing you on the band-side of life and watching your progress unfold.

:p"Isopuke" - Love that name! I tried several and thought nearly all of them were just plain awful and inedible. But the GrapeFrost flavor wasn't too bad I'll still drink it from time to time when I'm trying to kickstart some more weightloss. It's better if you mix it with some Crystal Light lemonade mix.

I agree 100%, Infact I believe PS WON'T fix any head issues over a persons body image. But I believe just as strongly that the band didn't "fix" the head issues that contributed to my getting severly obese either. What the band did for me was make it possible for me to work on my head issues more successfully than I ever had in the past. That has also been my opinion of Plastic Surgery. NOT that it will fix my head issues, but that it will help in some small way make it easier for me to find my own inner strength to overcome those negative inner voices. I admire those women (and men) who don't hear (or heed) the voices, I just am not one of them. And yes, 6-1/2 weeks out from PS the voices are still here but they are only whispering in comparison to the shouting I heard before. It reminds me of a commercial I see on TV here in the US for the band with a woman comparing her hunger pre-band to the roar of a lion and that post band to the Yeowl of a large tabby cat.

Each doc probably gives different reccomendations, especially depending on the extent of the surgery. (amount of skin, lipo, length of surgery, etc.) For my surgery, it lasted about 4-1/2 hours, the incision went out past my hips on both sides, between 11 & 12 pounds in skin & lipo was removed. The doc wanted me to take at least 4 weeks off work. However, in the end I worked 2 3-hour days after 1 week (with my drains still in) 1/2 time after 2 weeks and full time after 3. Mind you I work a sit down bookkeeping job and had help both getting and putting away files & making copies all the way through the first month after my surgery. So far it APPEARS my insolence has not caused any harm outside of possibly some extra swelling. But that does NOT mean I reccomend anyone else follow in my footsteps. My actions could have caused (and for all I know may still cause) any number of complications I don't even realize. Unfortunately I'm a bit stubborn and known for not following medical advice. I was also back to work only 3 days after my gallbladder surgery and even worse less than a week after having my son via C-section. Infact the PS thinks maybe that is one reason the internal scar tissue in my C-section area was as bad as it was.

I fall into that use to HATE it think people were NUTS category. But after being drug along last year for the first time with my DS & DM I've caught the bug. This year I wasn't back home to go out with them but still drug my sorry backside out of bed at 2:30am aft 3 hours of sleep to be in line for the first store opening at 4am. I shopped 7 different stores, spent at least 2 weeks wages and was home before noon. Sad thing is the majority of what I bought was for me, not for anyone else's X-mas. My crazy, cunning plan is to ask for these same items for Christmas from my family. If they get them for me I'll return what I bought, if not then well I got it a bunch cheaper than I would have after the holidays. Last year I did something similar and got an unintentional added bonus when I couldn't find my receipt for some DVD's I needed to return. I remembered I'd paid around $19 for them but the store gave me over $50 in store credit for their return. I tried to tell the clerk I paid less but since I didn't have the receipt she said it was easier to give me back thier current price than to give me less.

No worries. Just curious is all. I'm no one to judge after all you should hear all my excus..er..um..reasons I have for not having done my scar massages twice a day as the PS ordered. I keep kicking myself in the rear to get on track but haven't done it more than once every other day for the last 10+ days. I'm telling myself now that Thanksgiving is over I'm going to get back on track. I paid enough money for this I really should be doing my part to get the best results possible.

Name...........Chall. Start Wt........Current......Chall. Goal...........To Go TheGh0st...............169....................163 .............169......................6 My goal right now is just to get back to my ticker weight. I'd actually like to set it at 159 but at this point I'm too chicken to set a more aggressive goal for fear of failure. My doc says its just swelling from my recent surgery. I hope he is right and I can revise my goal in a week or two.

Jersey & JFC Below is a link to a thread that I posted some pics of my arms on. I also talk about it in more depth on page 14 of this thread. I only ask that you take some before measurements if not pics and then let me know if it works for you. wombat - I know what you mean I've got one bum shoulder myself and don't rub my arms near as much any more as it aggrevates the problem. I did see somewhere else on LBT and on some other sites that I googled that claimed that you could improve your skin tone/elasticity (along with a whole host of other claims) just by brushing your arms or other body parts with a natural boar's bristle brush. I went so far as to buy a brush and have used it a few times on my legs and arms but never took any before pics or measurements, and I haven't been doing it at all since the surgery. My hope was it wouldn't be so hard on my shoulder to simply brush my skin. And it might be easier to reach areas like my thighs with a brush. There is nothing in my book is a miracle cure for the excess skin, Your skin can only recover so much, maybe more with these methods, maybe not but still for people who have lost as much weight as we have I just don't see it as a cure. My personal hope was it would improve my arms enough that I can stop obsessing over my inability to afford the PS for my arms and be satisfied with whatever improvement it might give me. http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f109/excess-skin-questions-39989/ Oh and one more note on the skin. The *Experts*"?" say that your skin tone, elasticity can continue to improve for as long as 12-18 months after losing weight. Patience just isn't one of my virtues.

I'm so excited for you. This has got to be one of your best Thanksgivings ever.

Mexico - Same here. I'd researched it gotten quotes but my entire family was dead set against it. Not that any of them were offering to pay the difference ofcourse. Still to keep the peace I didn't pursue it any further (at least for now). Ofcourse down the road if I decide I just can't live with my arms or legs as is I may have to re-weigh the whole mexico vs family peace issue.

http://www.plasticsurgery.org/media/statistics/loader.cfm?url=/commonspot/security/getfile.cfm&PageID=23761 Found the above link the other day and thought it might be useful to post here. It lists the 2006 industry average prices for a variety of PS procedures. Mind you this is ONLY the surgeons fees not the complete cost including anethesia fees, facility fees, etc. But it's still useful as most docs will give you a quote with the prices broke down.

Wombat - I'm truly feeling better but come on it still hurts to laugh that hard. Are you trying to make me bust a stitch? But, I know what you mean. I only worked on my arms because I just couldn't reach my thighs under all the excess stomach skin and I just couldn't figure out a rubbing technique on my stomach that felt like it was doing anything more than making it jiggle like Santa when he shouts "Ho Ho Ho" :heh: (Sorry, private joke from another thread) Keep me posted though. I want to hear some results by Christmas.

Keep Breathing. I know this is one of the hardest things you have had to go through but each day will hurt just a tiny bit less. We may be a poor substitute for a 25 year friendship but we are here for you just the same. 1 Corinthians 10:13 "God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it."

Calling Maziemommy, TracyinKS & Wombat 712... This may be Off Topic but I need some updates please. The three of you all suggested you were going to try the arm rubbing thing about 2 weeks ago. Have any of you done it? Have you had any results? I had dinner with another bandster last night who had some physical therapy on one of her arms. (long story as to why) but she said by the time it was complete it had the side benefit of shrinking that arm down by 4". So that's 2 people that have had good results with it. (3 if you count my mother which I don't)

or the ever annoying "WE ALL THINK LESS OF YOU NOW FOR PICKING ON HER" I've probably been guilty of it too, but I swear nothing feeds a fire worse than everyone else jumping in the middle of those "Quit picking on me" aguments.

Ignor Option -AND- Other - Add a pop-up window that re-states the RNR motto that the viewer has to close before they see the thread they linked to.

No matter how "easy" you make it some newbies and not so newbies will still ask rather than dig. Just now I tried looking for quick "sticky thread" answers to your 2 examples and found that there wasn't one I could find for the question about slime but I did find a great thread in the Basics for Beginners Lap-Band Surgery FAQs and References Forum titled Abbreviations and What They Mean that listed definitions for PB and many other common abbreviations. The thread was dead easy to find and very obvious. Yet even though it has been there since the month I was banded I can still remember asking someone what PB meant myself a few months later on an unrelated thread that had used the phrase a few times. I guess that made me one of those idiot newbies at the time, Oh well, it wouldnt be the first time (nor last I fear) that I'm accused of being stupid. Don't get me wrong I still thing the stickies like the abbreviation sticky is GREAT! and it probably weeds out a few of the repetitive questions from newbies. I'd even like to see one that lists some of the common terms that we bandsters use that aren't abbreviated but still might be confusing to the un-innitiated such as the "slime" reference. One other suggestion might be to send an automated welcoming e-mail to each new member with either a link or an actual breakdown of the answers to some of these most common questions. I know another local band group that does something similar. It still won't stop people from forgetting that they were e-mailed these answers when they joined or remembering they got them but not knowing where to find the old e-mail when they need it. I guess us "old-timers" might just have to grit our teeth and thicken our own hides up a bit when we keep seeing these same questions over and over. After all we have the same ability to ignore those repetitive posts as everyone else does to ignore the RNR's that push thier buttons.

:faint: I just got the most unexpected compliment of my life last night. On my way out for dinner last night I saw a neighbor I hadn't seen for a few months putting his Christmas lights out with his children. When I went over to say hi he looked confused at first then said "OMG is that you? I was starting to think your husband had traded you in for a new wife. If you hadn't come over to talk I would have never recognized you." He even made one of his kids run in to get his wife to come out and take a closer look at the "new" me. The only thing that ruined the moment for me was realizing after I got in the car that I had stepped in his dogs fresh poo and was now both late and stinky for my dinner appointment. But it was all good for a compliment like that.

OOPS - Could swear I clicked the Quote button before replying the first time but obviously not. It was Faith's Suggestion I was agreeing with. I think the waiting period idea isn't bad either but Faith's seems the best idea all around.

Great Idea. I think even us "old timers" need to be reminded of this from time to time. Not sure if the programming would be difficult but it would sure be useful. It is too easy to stumble into RNR without realizing it if you aren't paying attention.

Hey there :pout: I was waiting to see your response about Second Life as well. Could you PM me as well? Thanks

I'm not trying to bash your former friend but from your posts and your pics it is obvious you are absolutely beautiful both inside and outside!

You are both very normal in your fears. Either that or I'm just as wierd But the very day of the surgery I was talking to my DH on the way to the hospital about wether or not to postpone the surgery since the pre-surgery diet was going so well. I was trying to rationalize that maybe as long as this "new" diet was working I'd just keep postponing it over and over. But then I remembered something someone else here on LBT said. "The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over, while expecting different results." I know you two will make it. I will keep you in my thoughts, and look forward to watching your progress.