lisah25

It's so sad that people can't just support each other in a common goal! I HATE the "easy way out" line. I don't see what I did as any easier then a program that tells you what to eat and when, or delivers your meals to you all cooked. We still have to make good food choices. We have to stop eating when we first feel satisfied.

ACCKK!!! :faint: That's what I get for posting in a hurry! Sorry.

Can you have broth or blended Soups? That was a life-saver for me.

Wow- how cool to see all the numbers - yay US

I'm new to this for myself, DH was banded a couple of years ago, and I've seen him get fills. The procedure itself goes quick and easy for him. They stick a needle into your stomach where your port is, and just inject or remove the saline. Much like getting a shot. He saysi t doesn't hurt at all. What they are is adjusting the size of the band, which is what restrict the amount of food that can pass through and how quickly. When you get to the right point, you can eat a small amount, and stay full for 3-4 hours as I understand it. Too tight, and you can't eat healthy foods. Too loose and you can eat too much.

I don't have a lot of experience with this yet, the only question that comes to mind is what are you eating and drinking?

I was out exactly one week. I had planned a few more days off, but a crisis came up and I had to come in. I probably would have been OK going back at that point if things had been calm, but I worked a ton of overtime the first 4 days, including the weekend, and so it took longer to feel normal.

This is, to me, a perfect example of how bad partisianship is in our country. When Clinton wanted measures to combat terrorism, including wiretapping measures, Reps said no. That he was going too far. Now, many of the same people support Bush wanting measures all-too-similiar. And Dems who supported Clinton having them are not so sure when it's Bush. And Clinton acted on bad intelligence. Hum, sounds familiar. (Of course, Clinton bombed a factory, he didn't invade a country. Yes, I am partisian as well!). And some of those who defended him against "wag-the-dog" claims now seem to think Bush uses terror alerts and such to distract people from the problems in his administration.

The memorial is amazing. I've been there twice, once in 1983 and then this last May. Both times, I've seen older Japanese men, veterans I think, on the memorial crying. People are very solemn and respectful and the whole experience gives me chills.

True enough, and I wasn't being clear, I'm sorry about that. I was only thinking about those more recent, and those attributed to Middle-Eastern groups. I forget most people can't, and probably don't want to, read my mind and know what I meant!

LOL - and I would have posted the same reply.

Yes, but I was thinking in the context of attacks in more recent history. From the middle-east terrorists since that is what we were discussing. Sorry if I wasn't clear.

I forgot nothing. What I said was "We had only had one other one in all the years before". I was referring to the 1993 attack. That's why I said "one other" and "all the years before". I meant before 9/11.

Thanks - that is probably the clearest explaination of it I've seen!

The only problem I had was during healing. I drank a lot of Crystal Light, and it made me sick. It might have before, I don't know because I didn't drink much of it. Once I healed, I've been just fine. No problems, I forget I don't have my Gallbladder until something reminds me.

I had my Gallbladder out 4.5 years ago, long before I knew the band existed. I had been doing Atkins, and lost a lot of weight rather quickly, and the doctors said that was what triggered the attacks most likely.

Love the poem, it's one of my favorites and sums up how I feel about my faith. As far as the attack on our soil, I'm not sure I give Bush credit for that. We had only had one other one in all the years before. I don't count OK city only because it was domestic terrorists. And now there are lots of Americans in the Middle East to be targets.

I agree, I didn't get the point of the show at all.

I'm in about the same spot, I've gone up a couple of pounds as I've transitioned from liquids to foods. It's annoying, but from what I've been told, not unexpected. It doesn't mean you are doing anything wrong. This time is about healing, and our bodies are trying to figure out what the heck is happening to them! The band is a tool. It doesn't really start working until it's properly adjusted, so it's WAY to early for us to decide it's not working.

We used a home equity line of credit. Actually, we paid with a Visa that gets us Airline miles, then paid that off with the credit line. That way, we can deduct the interest and it's a pretty decent rate. Costs do vary, one thing to find out is what aftercare is included in the rate. For example, my $17000 includes all follow-up for a year, including fills. I like knowing I don't have to factor in a cost when deciding to get a fill/

One thing I did that helped back when we were deciding for DH(banded 2 years ago) and for my own decisions. was spend time on both Lap-Band boards like this one, and support boards for other surgeries. So that I could see what complications patients from all were dealing with. And what I thought I could live with. I think you can find patients from all WLS who had bad problems, and regret doing it. Just as you'll find those who LOVE what they had done.

Best of luck! I really agree that if you feel like you need to give it another try before surgery, you are doing the right thing. If it suceeds, cool! If not, banding is always there if you want it. You don't want to go through the surgery and always wonder if it was right for you. I will aslo agree with those who said that long-term bandsters who are doing just fine aren't as likely to be on groups like this. DH was banded 2 years ago, and he's very happy with his band. Biggest problem he has is a PB now and then when he eats something wrong the wrong way. Too fast, too big of bites, that sort of thing.

Actually, my Gallbladder pain was in the front, on the right and not far above my waist.

A friend and I were driving into Canada one day to go shopping. Stopped at the border of course, and the customs guy said "Citizens?" We very politely said "Yes". He looked at us for a second, then said "Of...?" and we responded, in unison no less "Washington state". He just looked at us for a moment, then waved us through. We didn't realize how stupid our answer was until a minute or two later. This was of course pre 9/11.

Thanks! I just went through my closet and found some stuff that is too big. I love that. I do need to get some pics. I want to take them at least once a month on this journey.