btrieger

Didn't change prescription at all.

Good morning all. My pets are named after restaurants. My male dog is B-Dubs (nickname of Buffalo Wild Wings); my bitch (I love saying that is the correct context even) is Seven (short for 7 Salsas, a great Mexican restaurant here in North Texas) and my cat is Twin Peaks. B-Dubs is 14 months old and weighed in at 165 pounds a month ago. He's still got about 100 pounds to go. One of my goals is to weigh less than him. Seven is 26 months old. Somebody paid a lot of money for her and I got her for free because she grew too big for them. She's been holding steady at 140 pounds for 6 months or so. The dogs don't eat much at all. About a half gallon bucket of Purina One dry food between them a day. They sleep the majority of the day. They are like gigantic stuffed animals and just as vicious. I am still contemplating putting the cat down because she puked all over my keyboards Saturday night. She pukes at least 3 times a week on everything. It's not an accident when she sits there forcing it up, making nasty noises for a couple of minutes. Elfie, I was actually worried about you. No more disappearing without permission young lady!! Betsy, you posted the same picture twice. Is your cat a schizophrenic? :biggrin: I love the pet pictures but the names and origins are even better.

Cross your fingers and hope you don't get a call from them later this week for a follow-up. My favorite part is the glue they stuck in my hair. I am a guy with short hair. I can only imagine what it is like for you girls. All you can do is grin and bear it. It's for a good cause, your health. Good luck with everything.

I agree with Cheri on Juarez. Also, make sure that you do a ton of research on whatever surgeon you do choose. The courts here can't hold foreign surgeons accountable for any discrepancies that occur. Dr. Ortiz in Tijuana get great reviews here while Dr. Huacuz has been depicted as an incompetent butcher.

I prepped myself and those around me for these changes and I never experienced them. I think all of the extra exercise I was doing diffused a bunch of it plus the fact that I take budeprion (Wellbutrin) daily. Others will tell you that I am such a miserable jerk all of the time that it just wasn't noticeable. :biggrin: I tend to go with the latter.

I was approved after 10 days by Aetna. The nurse at my surgeon's office said that caffeine is a diuretic and causes your body to retain fats and Fluid. I don't know the exact science to it. It was the first time I had ever heard this. I've been told numerous times by nutritionists that black coffee and tea were fine to drink on diets. The one thing I am positive of is that caffeine raises your blood pressure and that was enough for me to give it up. I just googled it and this was the top response: WikiAnswers - Does caffeine hinder weight loss I'm not a picky eater and notice no difference between real coffee and caffeine free. I did notice the difference in Diet Coke but since I am not drinking carbonated beverages again, it doesn't matter. Don't FOCUS on the negatives and what you have to give up. Look at it is a positive light. A much better outlook is, "If I drink decaffeinated coffee, my blood pressure will be lower and I will be healthier." Good luck!! We now return you to your regularly scheduled thread. :biggrin:

Lou, I'm sorry to hear you are going through this crap. I had something similar but it was only one person in the doctor's office and she was fired when they found out. Try to keep a positive attitude. This is only a small set back and life isn't a race. There are plenty of competent surgeons in Florida and I'm sure you'll connect with one soon. Good luck!! Bob

I don't know about the shakes but a couple of things were raising my blood pressure. The first is salt/sodium intake. A lot of low cal products replace the tasty fat and sugar in their products with loads of sodium to imitate the taste but it sounds like you have a handle on that if you are buying low sodium meats. The second is smoking. Do you smoke?

Check out the last post in this link: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f17/ticker-tutorial-pictures-41782/

I wouldn't be worried but "Last Supper Syndrome" is self-destructive. It is just more weight you will have to lose. I'd try to put an end to it. Keep a positive attitude and look forward to your new life. Don't think about what you won't be eating. Chances are you'll be able to eat anything you want. I had a 3 week pre-op diet and I think it helped prepare me for post-op when I really can't eat solid food.

I'm in the Protein shake loving group as well and I ain't doing anything fancy. I fill my cup with 10 ounces of water; dump in the Optifast powder; shake like Hell and drink. My roommate is a gym rat and mixes tasteless protein powder with everything.

Welcome! Great news Stargate. I was pushed from January to March. The 6 weeks flew by though and March has a better group than January. Just kidding. Girl55, don't think of it as d-day. It is V-Day!!

Are you journaling everything you eat and drink? Doing this may point out that you are eating more calories than you thought. It will also aid a dietitian in helping you. This can be done with pen and paper but most use an online site like The Daily Plate. Also, are you drinking at least 64 ounces of clear water a day? This matters more than most people are aware.

Some think fat free plain yogurt is a good substitute. I use Miracle Whip Free or Miracle Whip Light. Fortunately, I like Miracle Whip more than mayonnaise anyways.

I said the same thing yesterday. I am getting light headed every time I stand up. No weakness or drowsiness other than that. It is either low blood pressure; low blood sugar or a combination of both. I am taking meds for high bp and my blood sugar has always been perfect. I've eaten nothing in 4 full weeks besides Protein shakes and 6 6 oz fat free yogurts. My blood pressure could shoot back up when I start eating normally again. So, I am waiting it out. I have a blood pressure cuff around here somewhere. PS. I hit my 50% point today and didn't realize it until now. Down 97.5 with 97.5 to go.

I was doing just the opposite. Instead of passing up something, I would exercise extra to make up for it. Both methods seem to make sense. The end justifies the means I guess.

I had to take out a loan to pay for the taxes on the Explorer but don't even think about that now. You have more than 13 months before you even have to think about it. Concentrate on your surgery; being thin and healthy!

Jen, I don't have that kind of luck any more. Hawaii was 1995 and the Explorer in 1997. It used to be easy to win things on the internet when it was only us geeks. I knew my luck had come to an end when my 65 year old mother got an internet account.

Ask and ye shall receive. Check out this link and let me know if you still need help: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f17/ticker-tutorial-pictures-41782/ Good luck.

I've won a trip to Hawaii and a Ford Explorer. I ended having to pay 42% taxes. 37% federal and 5% state income tax. Both of these were luxuries though, surgery is hardly that.

Congrats and welcome aboard. The time will fly by and is a great time for any soul searching you may still need. You may lose a couple of nights' sleep if you have to do sleep tests as well. But that is the worst of it.

Welcome aboard! I am basically in the same boat as far as support goes. I moved across the country for work a couple of years ago and have very few close friends here. The people on this website have been great support. I don't know if it is a misery loves company deal or not but it works.

I'm sorry to hear that you are still having pain but it just goes to show how everybody is different. I had my surgery the same day and any discomfort I had was gone Friday. However, I've only dropped 3 pounds since surgery.

Welcome aboard dk and Sharon.

Thanks! Y'all made be blush.