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You and your pictures are really inspiring! Thank you so much for your blog. It is really helpful to hear the truth about the ups and downs. Cali

OH, PPS: Is that a LIME I see in the drink on the table behind you? You're my kind of girl!! Pickly

OMG! That is such a cute picture of you in the hosp with your laptop! Your celebrity sheets and a big smile!!! Really glad to get the details...hope you'll continue as things go! Maybe I'll incorporate "Say yes to drugs" into my crossword for my belly! PS Was your band placed 'empty'? D

Get your rest and save your energy...you need it for blogging...ok I'm addicted to your blog!!! Cali

Circa, That's a great way of saying it!!! Cali

A wise man (psychologist) once told me, "we have to own and take responsibility for what we say...no one knows what you meant, its what you say!" That's why when someone uses a derogatory racial term but then says no offense, or I really like people of whatever race it doesnt count...you said it, its hurtful, you own it! Good luck girl! Cali

I love your blog...I wish you wrote more often!! Thanks. Cali

Good luck and I hope this all works out for you. As you consider the risks of the procedure vs the benefits to your life and health please also consider the risks you are taking by continuing to be heavy. Of course diabetes, cancer, heart disease which could take you away from your children prematurely but also the negative feelings you probably have about yourself that are taking you away from your chilren right now. Do you know what I mean? Like I think how can I be the best Mom if I cant go hiking or even enjoy myself at one of my daughter's functions because I am so miserable and self-conscious about how I look! There are so many people here who will be right with you every day for support if you decide to do it!...Cali

Seems like the actual procedure is 45 minutes to an hour and a half. I am having a hernia repair (hole in diaphragm bigger than just for the esophagus...bad heartburn) at the same time but I doubt that adds more than ten minutes. The only big complication I ever heard of was some liver disease discovered so they were closed up without band. If you are really curious I would type in complications in the search box and see what you get. Oh, and I have heard of two people having their band taken out because of taking pills (one whole, the other was large chunks) and then so much choking and vomitting that they slipped their band. I plan to dissolve or chew any tablet for the rest of my life but also my doc sews a little piece of your stomach over the band and back to itsself and he says his have NEVER slipped! Good luck...Cali

The thing is, I think we all know the feeling (beautifully expressed in your poem) that there are naturally skinny people and we kind of hate them and Hell, they may hate us...but for those of us who are barely getting started (getting banded in13 days!) we are afraid that there might be a huge group of successful banders who lost all their weight magically and effortlessly so we know that wont be us! And, once again we might be excluded from the skinny group! So when people like you are painfully honest about the whole thing It gives us hope that we can succeed! Keep writing! Cali

You are an awesome person...thank you so much for being so honest...it helps all of us!! I always think of you as lady in red! You rock, you roll, and you are kicking ass and not bothering to take names!! You are really an example to all of us who have to walk the walk and wade thru the abyss of associated emotions...keep doing what you do, girl!!! Cali

I think the real you is coming out ( I stole that from some other thread!) but I think its true and the boyfriend will have to go! The worst way to hurt him is to stay with him if youre not in love...who would want that! Just keep becomoing your awesome self! Youre an inspiration to the rest of us just getting started! Cali

I guess since I don't have a lot to lose, I didn't get a diet. He just said can you try to lose ten pounds? But I have been reading all over this site and it seems the majority are hi protein, low fat and sugar, mainly to shrink the liver, which can be in the way of where your surgeon is working. With any surgery hi protein is usually good for wound healing and since protein can't be stored (liver or anywhere) if there's excess you just pee it out! Sugar and fat can be stored in the liver. I am doing a lot of slim fast low carb and cottage cheese and trying to keep my protein over 60 grams a day. Too little protein and bad things happen , like your hair falls out. Fat and sugar, I guess we all have plenty of that in storage!! Good Luck! Cali

Dear DH (and BG), Thanks so much for posting...there are tons of people who have been checking this site with obsessive fervor to see how things went...cant you put a webcam on her for a live-but-groggy blog-cast?!? Pickly Pal

I agree with Linda O. I got an email about 'lapband store' which I think I deleted but that would be the place to start marketing it...

Wow! I have my preop day on the 5th too...no margaritas for us I guess! I hope I meet you but I must confess I was just going to look for a guy with a lot of tattoos until I saw your 'real' pix! LOL! Cali

You DREW that?! Its awesome...I am doing some artwork too but I guess I don't care where the port is but I dont want to wake up and find out I accidentally had Gastric Bypass or a leg amputation! So I am making a crossword puzzle with the Dr's name and the words 'lap band' intersecting through it just so we all know what procedure I'm getting! I cant wait to hear from you post op!!! Cali

Happy to have you here. Maybe you can put a picture of Meredith and Sandra for your avatar! We are all here to support you in whatever you decide!...Cali

May 6th for me too...the countdown begins! Good luck, Cali

I looked up the nutrition on it because I thought it would be good, too. Greek yogurt is the only thing I see mentioned here. Anyway, yes, its non fat and has 4-5 grams of protein in a half cup..yeah! But...lots of sugar so I guess that's bad. Maybe somewhere its made with fake sugar...I generally try to avoid anything fake but in an ice cream desperation...I would try it!!...Cali

I think the fact that you are so self-aware and honest predicts your success! Good luck! Cali

Dear Kitty, Best thing for any headache...water, water, and more water! Good luck! Cali

I had a deep butt craqck between my eyebrows and so I got botox (not too painful, I had an icepack first and about $300) in about a week it was gone and its still gone with no more botox and its been 4 years! The doc told me it takes YEARS to create those lines and years to ge thtem back. If I see a sign tho, I'm going back for more! Oh, I also had collagen at the little lines going down from mouth corners (marionette) and it did nothing! $300 wasted! Also very painful but who caresif it had worked!!

The show I saw was three shows about three people, only the lady (beautiful hispanic Mom) died. The shows were called "half ton Dad, half ton teen, amnd half ton Mom." Very sad but a new life I think for the two that survived and maybe a valuable although painful lesson to the two daughters of the Mom who died. She seemed like a heck of a lady with a lot of courage to find by internet campaign a doc who would do the procedure on her! They were all great shows, the teen broke my heart. He was such a baby, his Mom treated him like he was two and fed him to keep him her baby, I think. I think she had lost a child and found it impossible to say no to him and wanted to keep him as a baby. Cali

Dear Isabell, Go to the FORUMS up at the top and then click on "Post op lap band surgery questions and answers" then the first thing is called "sticky" like a sticky note and it is the stories of everyone's surgery day.It was really helpful to me to calm my mind and know what to expect and some things to bring or ask the doc for..good luck, youll do great!!! Cali