Band_Groupie

Wow, sounds like a (mainly) great week off (minus the family drama...funny how relationships change). Hope your back-to-work week is good! -BG

Hey Angie...sounds just like my new computer (family got me)...oh, and I'll let you know when I get the walking thing set-up (I signed up, but I forgot my pedometer isn't loaded into the new computer, so I'll have to wait until DH is back to get the measuring and loading done-traveling all week. -BG

You're a work-out machine! Good work! -BG

Do a search on the home page under complications for 'port revision'...it does happen, but from what I've heard the recovery is so much easier than the whole banding. Best wishes. -BG

Congrats! You've taken the first step. What a great way to start the New Year! -BG

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Ditto the second opinion...where does he tell you the food will sit while it's providing that 'full' feeling for hours (which is why we got the band) before it goes through the stoma?!! The only place that's left is your esophagus. Sounds like you need a new surgeon. Best wishes! -BG

Hmmm...I'll have to look at that. I did a LOT of research on the heartburn and many sites mentioned the enzymes helping. I know there are many here who use them when they get stuck and I know they help breakdown proteins, but I've never seen anything saying they're acidic or bad for the esophagus...I've been using them for 7 months or so. I'll look into it.

drowsy- Your boys will LOVE this, and you can even get prebaked kits at the craft stores to put together. We've been doing this with our kids every year since my oldest was 2 and now she's 22 and still looks forward to it...they had a blast!

Well said! -BG

Go to tickerfactory.com and follow the directions for creating the ticker for WL. Then open a separate tab on LBT and go to 'user cp' then 'edit your signature'...copy and paste the actual picture of the ticker there (not the code) and don't forget to save there. Have fun! -BG Oh- and it won't show up here in blogs, just on the 'home' page when you post.

I'm sure all will go smoothly Tuesday, keep us posted! Best wishes! -BG

Congrats on the Bandiversary and the WL! You can meet your goal, you know what to do! -BG

I hope you all had a great long Holiday weekend (or week)! We sure did! It was great having DS1 home for a week. DH just left to take the PSU boys back to college so it was a wild morning today getting things together. DD just took DS2 out for lunch, a movie ('Planet 51'), and some Christmas shopping…as the youngest, he loves having any kind of private time with any of us, so I was really happy that they wanted to spend time together. I'm left to unwind here and get out some decorations for Christmas, but that's another story. We enjoyed each others company and time together this week…played lots of games, went shopping on Black Friday (OMG the crowds this year!), etc. I'll have to say it was wonderful being home. We had some great moments together. DH wanted to pick out the turkey, so I asked him to get a small one since it would only be the five of us. DS2 went with him and they picked out a 22 lb. turkey…ummm….what didn't they understand about the word 'small'?!!! Here's the rational I was given 'The deal was on the turkey's that were 18 lbs. or over and there weren't any that were 18-20 lbs…..Why pay more for a 16 lb. turkey when we can get a bigger one for less?!!!' Can you tell he's not the turkey chef? Ah well…I had to increase the amount of stuffing so it wouldn't be lost in the turkey and get dried out, but other than that it wasn't a problem. I had DD help me 'dress' the turkey so she could learn how and there was lots of squealing 'Ooooo gross!!!!' as we removed the giblets to make the stock for the gravy, put butter between the skin and the meat, stuffed the cavities, sewed it closed, and bent the wings backwards (it took us at least 5 min. to ram that giant bird into my huge roasting pan). The meal turned out perfectly thanks to everyone pitching in at the end and everything came out at the same time as planned. I asked all the kids to tell me their 'Thanksgiving favorites' as I was planning the menu. I noticed as I was bringing everything in to the buffet that, other than the turkey, there was nothing low cal or healthy about the meal…turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, green bean casserole w/fried onions, yam casserole in brown sugar, cranberry sauce, assorted olives, crescent rolls and butter, and pumpkin pie with whipped cream. OK, I guess it's not supposed to be a healthy meal, but next year I might add something healthy to the list…maybe some pumpkin soup or something with fruit? *Portion of Post Deleted for Lap Band Book I'm so thankful that I had my whole family together and that we were able to stay home and really just enjoy each other…it was a wonderful Thanksgiving week!

Hey pd...I also count from the beginning weigh in at the beginning of my six month pre-op diet. I had this problem after my last fill. It's something you have to be very careful about. The burning means you're causing damage to the esophagus. Heatburn is one of the most common side-effects of banding and can be the normal burning or just a lump-in-the-throat feeling (globus sensation), or both. I've been taking Nexium and papaya enzyme pills with meals also help (as does pineapple or kiwi enzymes...as someone mentioned pineapple). The PPI's (Nexium) are not good to take long-term as they shut off normal acids you need for digestion. The only reason I didn't go for an unfill is that I wasn't having terrible problems and I never had a problem during the night (reflux that wakes you up means it's bad), and it was helped by the treatments. I'm doing great now, but plan to get off the Nexium shortly and see what happens...so I'm watching it closely. Don't hesitate to see your doc if it's not clearing up quickly...sometimes just a tiny unfill can make a big difference. Good luck!

181...even though my kids were laughing at how little was on my plate I managed to eat at least twice as much as normal...dag Thanksgiving feast! Good job Riley!

22 lb. turkey is stuffed and in the oven...pumpkin pie is cooling...watching the Macy's parade.... HAPPY THANKSGIVING ALL!!!! (Andrea, you look great!!!)

1 pound short...dag! Thanks for the challenge! On to the New Year's one... Happy Thanksgiving all!

181...have I mentioned that plateaus suck? HAPPY THANKSGIVING ALL!!!

Have a Happy Thanksgiving all...and watch out for that evil Head Hunger!

WOOT! Happy dance time...and what great timing heading into the Holidays!!! You're doing great!!! Isn't it nice to finally feel like you're never going to see a '2' again!!! Have a great holiday! -BG

It will get easier! Your story sure made me think about the holidays and how important family is...those poor kids...I swear you should have to pass some sort of test before you get pregnant; some people just weren't made to be parents! Have a great holiday and remember, it's all worth it! -BG

Chris- First, WELCOME to LBT! Great blog, and so well said! You'll find lots of support and people who have been through the same things here (I'm a former yo-yo queen myself). Keep blogging, it helps. -BG

Thanks gals...and Happy Holidays (Stay out of the cookies Dz!). Oh, and DH didn't like the window one (OK, I did ask him)...guess it needs some work. -BG

I’m channeling my creativity (so I don‘t take it out on the Thanksgiving pie this year)…I just finished making my annual Christmas decoration exchange items. I was behind again this year in thinking of an idea (as if I‘m ever ahead), so I drug (dragged?) DH to the stores with me this weekend looking for inspiration. There wasn’t much to inspire out there this year, so as usual, I made up my own. We’ve been doing these so many years I realized I’ve never made anything for the kitchen, so that was my inspiration. I made a decoration to hang from a cupboard or other place in the kitchen with a pick, handmade bows and some cookie cutters and ribbon…OK, not all that creative, but I had to make a bunch of these and mail them out soon and these went together quickly (pic attached). 　 Could you hear me? I was playing the holiday music and singing my way through my crafts the last two mornings (much to my family’s complaints). I know, I know, I’m the first one to say when I’m in the stores ‘What’s up with the Christmas music? It’s not even Thanksgiving yet!!!‘ , but it sure got me in the mood to make Christmas decorations. So if your feeling a little blah heading into the holidays (been hearing a lot of that lately here), crank up the music, make a craft or bake some cookies (and freeze them, of course, so you won‘t be tempted)…it will get you in the spirit, I promise. Put them all in bikinis and that will keep you from eating them! 　 I took the leftovers and made a whole string of holiday cookie cutters with picks and ribbon at each end for over my kitchen sink window (pic attached). I think I need to get some more ribbon and picks and pull the center up with a big bow or something for a focal point. You know me, over-decoritis is my affliction when it comes to the holidays...one can never have too many holiday decorations!