DouglasP13

Hey, I know what you mean about the port. I look down at my stomach, and the port is like sticking out. It's like I'm loosing weight on half my stomach, and the other half is growing. I sure hope that gets better.

Well, things are going well. It looks like my weight loss is about 50 pounds now. And that is still having that candy bar the other night. I am not splurging, nor am I hungry, nor do I crave stuff. I am doing great!!! I'm so happy that things are going smoothly. Anyway, that's all I have to say. Luv ya all!

We still love you anyway, T!!!!! *hug* I'm just a lucky person.

Okay, I have to keep coming up with a different title every time, it's kinda hard when I keep having good days. Just wait, I'm sure I'll have a bad day, so keep checking the titles. Okay, I know, I have too much free time on my hands to be thinking about this. Well, I go back to work on Saturday. I'm excited, yet I don't want to get off of my vacation, I'm enjoying myself way too much. Now, on to seriousness, Leigh has had her band removed, and she is still in the hospital, but she is doing fine, just a little pain. And Teresita, she said that Fr. Abraham would make her smile right now, so everyone, please message her and let her know you are singing to her. She will love that!!!! *evil laugh* She said that her stomach was prolapsed around the band. This was from her morning sickness, I hope I can say that out in the open Leigh, I think I can, but who knows, if not, I take it back, she had the stomach flu and threw up several times, in the morning, and then she was fine. But anyway, her spirits are high, not sure if that is the pain medication or not, but we shall take advantage of that, so yeah, she is doing good right now. Okay, now did I mention that I have been maintaining my weight loss if not a couple more pounds off? Well, I have, and I have energy, which means I have been getting enough protein, and stuff. Since I have been doing so good, I had a small candy bar tonight. I know, but hey, it took me an hour to eat it, so that was okay. It wasn't a benge thing, I just felt like it. It's the first chocolate that I've had since my surgery, I think. Oh well, it's all good.

Well, things are going well. It looks like my weight loss is about 50 pounds now. And that is still having that candy bar the other night. I am not splurging, nor am I hungry, nor do I crave stuff. I am doing great!!! I'm so happy that things are going smoothly. Anyway, that's all I have to say. Luv ya all!

Okay, I have to keep coming up with a different title every time, it's kinda hard when I keep having good days. Just wait, I'm sure I'll have a bad day, so keep checking the titles. Okay, I know, I have too much free time on my hands to be thinking about this. Well, I go back to work on Saturday. I'm excited, yet I don't want to get off of my vacation, I'm enjoying myself way too much. Now, on to seriousness, Leigh has had her band removed, and she is still in the hospital, but she is doing fine, just a little pain. And Teresita, she said that Fr. Abraham would make her smile right now, so everyone, please message her and let her know you are singing to her. She will love that!!!! *evil laugh* She said that her stomach was prolapsed around the band. This was from her morning sickness, I hope I can say that out in the open Leigh, I think I can, but who knows, if not, I take it back, she had the stomach flu and threw up several times, in the morning, and then she was fine. But anyway, her spirits are high, not sure if that is the pain medication or not, but we shall take advantage of that, so yeah, she is doing good right now. Okay, now did I mention that I have been maintaining my weight loss if not a couple more pounds off? Well, I have, and I have energy, which means I have been getting enough protein, and stuff. Since I have been doing so good, I had a small candy bar tonight. I know, but hey, it took me an hour to eat it, so that was okay. It wasn't a benge thing, I just felt like it. It's the first chocolate that I've had since my surgery, I think. Oh well, it's all good.

Hello everyone! Sorry I haven't posted much. Even though I have been off of work for the past 2 weeks, I have been busy. I have realized who my true friends are. Derek, who had been on drugs, actually has been there for me quite bit these past 2 weeks. And my other friend who goes with me to the shows, well, she has shown her true colors as well. Thank God she wasn't my support angel. She pawned me off on her mother to give me a ride home the other night, when she lives very close to me. That just upsets me. Well anyway, my weight loss of 43 pounds has been maintained over the past week, and possibly down another pound or two. I have my first doctor's appointment since my surgery tomorrow morning. We will see what their scales say. I have actually done great on the full liquids, and have actually gone on to soft foods. I have been careful to not eat too much, or too fast. So far, I haven't had an upset stomach, and I haven't thrown up at all yet. Things have actually gone quite well. If anyone has anything thing to say about this, please let me know. Be honest. Well, once again sorry that I haven't been on here too much. I shall always strive to do better. Thanx for the kick Teresita! Also, please keep our friend Leigh in your prayers. She is haven't quite a rough time, and she went in today for surgery. They were either going to just unbuckle the band, or remove it. Not sure which. I am going to try to call her tomorrow and find out how she is doing. Take care, love ya all!

Hello everyone! Sorry I haven't posted much. Even though I have been off of work for the past 2 weeks, I have been busy. I have realized who my true friends are. Derek, who had been on drugs, actually has been there for me quite bit these past 2 weeks. And my other friend who goes with me to the shows, well, she has shown her true colors as well. Thank God she wasn't my support angel. She pawned me off on her mother to give me a ride home the other night, when she lives very close to me. That just upsets me. Well anyway, my weight loss of 43 pounds has been maintained over the past week, and possibly down another pound or two. I have my first doctor's appointment since my surgery tomorrow morning. We will see what their scales say. I have actually done great on the full liquids, and have actually gone on to soft foods. I have been careful to not eat too much, or too fast. So far, I haven't had an upset stomach, and I haven't thrown up at all yet. Things have actually gone quite well. If anyone has anything thing to say about this, please let me know. Be honest. Well, once again sorry that I haven't been on here too much. I shall always strive to do better. Thanx for the kick Teresita! Also, please keep our friend Leigh in your prayers. She is haven't quite a rough time, and she went in today for surgery. They were either going to just unbuckle the band, or remove it. Not sure which. I am going to try to call her tomorrow and find out how she is doing. Take care, love ya all!

Hello everyone! I'm back, hopefully more often now. Okay, lets fill you in on my saga..... Okay, you remember my best friend Derek, with the drug problem, right? Well, he is a CNA at a nursing home. He took off work for a few days to help me out after and during the surgery. He has been terrific. He stayed the first 3 days with me at my home and took care of me in anyway he could. He truly redeemed himself. Okay, my other friend that I go to musicals and such with, her name is Rachel. This is the self centered one. Well, she waits until 4 days after the surgery to call me, and she wanted to know if we were still going to see 'Cats' this past Friday. I was like, uh no, I had surgery, and I'm to sore to go. It's like she didn't even care if I was okay or not. Found out she was in the hospital for some tests on the day of my surgery. She couldn't even go up 2 floors to see if I was alive or anything! I have heard more from her mother than her. Her mom was mad at her for not telling her that I was in the hospital the same day. Now, is she selfish or what??? Yeah, you're telling me! GRRRRRRRRRR. Anyway, my surgery went great, and I continue to be doing wonderful. I am on full liquids right now, and I am actually cheating a bit, and last night I had part of a chicken breast. I ate slowly, and chewed my food well, so it was fine, no problems at all. You just never know! Anyway, no mood swings, no sadness, no nothing, just happy and enjoying my time off! Take care my friends and I hope to hear from you all. *hugz to you all*

Sounds like things are good with you. I have missed talking to ya, hope to talk soon. Take care. *hug*

Girl, it sounds like you are doing an excellent job. Great mileage! I know how it is not being here as much, sometimes it sucks. But I will still be here. Good luck to ya!

By the way, I'm in Paducah, not far from Hopkinsville.

Have the willpower to tell yourself this is for a better you. I already feel at the top!

Good suggestions to come....read on..... Okay, so much to reply to. 1st, Ene, I had the Icopure zero carb clear liquid drink from GNC, dr. said to do it, it's perfect for this. Yes, it is $3.75 a bottle, but a bottle is 40 grams of Protein in a 20 oz. bottle. Also, I would say go ahead and try some full liquids like Protein shakes. The best is unjury, you can get at www.unjury.com and it has 20 grams of protein perserving. You just mix the powder with milk or whatever. Tastes ok, but it's well worth it. Now, GrumpyNYC, hello to you as well. As far as pain, I'm just about done with the pain. I got pain pills, but I have stopped using them. The only pain is my throat gets dry quickly, especially over night. They at the same time did an endoscopy to remove some pre-cancerous cells from my reflux that I didn't know I had. Okay, my secrets of the trade. 1st of all, I have an amazing doctor and staff, especially the staff. The nutritionist had come up with a 30 day liver shrinkage diet. It was 2000 mg sodium per day, 1200-1500 calories a day, and 30 grams of fat per day. Mostly fresh fruits and vegetables. Don't eat too much that is in a box, bag, can or bottle. As soon as I got used to this way, I would cook 3 or 4 meals at a time, and put them in tupperware. I found no sodium added green Beans, corn, peas, veg-all. And then I found low sodium forzen dinners in Healthy Choice. To help me splurging on this diet, on days that I wanted to cheat, I would look up the nutritional info on fast food stores, and then if I wanted something that had too much fat or sodium, I knew I had to drink the unjury shakes the rest of the day. My favorite is McDonald's Big Mac, only 1010 mg sodiu, but 30 grams of fat, with 56o calories. I would have one of those and then shakes the rest of the day. This way, I had 25 g protein from the big mac and then 20 g protien in a shake. I always bot low calorie, low fat, low sodium stuff. It was great. Also, I'm very active, I walk every day, not that much, and not at once, but I made it work, and it worked well. I have lost about 15 pounds since the surgery. I truly do have a wonderful dr. Lots of people don't like him cuz of his attitude, but he is very cautious and concerned about his patients. Here is what my diet was supposed to be. 30 days before surgery - low sodium diet 24 hours before surgery - go on Clear Liquids ONLY for 3 days after surgery - clear liquids next 2 weeks - full liquids like shakes and cream soups then for next couple of weeks - pureed food and MASHED POTATOES!!! gotta love KFC! Please, if anyone has any questions, please pm me, or ask me, I am very glad to help. Please ask away, it makes me feel useful, and it helps me repay those who have helped me and answered my questions along the way. Thank you for all of your support. Please pm me with questions, I love the attention! j/k Love ya all!!!

Hello Lydia! Glad to hear things have begun. Sometimes it can be a long process. Where are you from? I am from Western KY.

Well, I just got back from wal-mart, and did my shopping to start my liver shrinkage diet. I'm even excited about that, am I crazy or what? At least there is some good food I can have on this diet. I also bought the movie 'The DaVinci Code' I've listened to the book and saw the movie. They are both great, but you can't compare them because they are so different. The movie is great in it's own rite, but the book is so much more in depth. Yeah, I'm one of those who don't compare the books to the movies. I love movies way too much to do that. If I did that, I would never watch another movie again for as long as I live. Well, walking around wal mart for an hour just killed my leg. I'm not supposed to walk that much after the surgery cuz it might bleed out, but I was very very careful. It took like 10 trips in from the car with what I bought. I can't life over 10 pounds for like 2 weeks. That could either suck, or it might just be awesome cuz people will have to do things for me. So, I guess I love it, but then again, I'm a hard worker, and I dont' like to ask for help, so it will be hart. Oh jeez, what a contradiction!?!?! I don't know what to do. I've always had that problem. I'm a perfectionist, and I'm also a procrastinator. So it has to be perfect.....tomorrow! Yeah, I get so confused at times. Do I clean, or do I sit on my butt and watch tv??? Well, I guess since I'm on here gettin' this surgery, you know which one I did the most? But anyway, there were lots of people at the hospital for me when I had my heart cath, which was wonderful! And there were lots more that called, and wanted to stay out of my way, but they were equally concerned. I appreciate each and everyone of them so very much. However, lets talk for a moment about the 2 that aren't at the top of the list...... 1st, my best friend Derek, okay, so he came to the hospital and stayed with me longer than most anyone else did, except my parents, but he was supposed to call me today so we could do something. Guess what??? He didn't call, he didn't even answer his cell phone when I called him, or his home phone. I guess he just got too tied up in things to call. Right, the lazy fool, he probably got a call from his girlfriend, and totally forgot about me, but he at least was there when I needed him for my surgery. You see, one day he is awesome, the next he sux!!! 2nd, my friend that I visit all the time, and spend quite a bit of money on. Let's see, did she come and see me? No! Her mother did, she spent 5 hours at the hospital with me. Did she call her mom to see how I was doing? No. Did she call me to see how I was doing? No. Did she at least call me in the previous week to let me know that she was worried? No. Did she text me asking how I was? No. Did she even message me on msn? No. And she was even there when I was online. I know it cuz her message kept changing with things on it that only she would put. Sounds to me like she don't give a hoot about me, doesn't it sound that way to you? Just agree with me, especially when I'm on a roll, okay? Now get this.....her dad has been in training for the past 3 months, and he finally got a leave to come home for Thanksgiving. In a couple months he will be shipped out to Iraq. Okay, so you think she would want to spend some time with him this weekend, right? Nope! She is leaving on Friday to go to a Broadway musical, that she has seen 6 or so times already, with a friend of hers, instead of spending time with her dad who may not be home before he gets shipped out. She may never see him again, you just never know. Does this sound a little self-absorbed to you? Yeah, it does to me too, and her mother feels the same way. I can't stand people who are selfish. It really bothers me. So, have I complained enough? By the way, let me explain something. I don't ever complain to anyone I know. I keep it all inside because I don't want to complain about people. That's why I have to let it out here. I'm not really a jerk, I just sound like one from time to time. Anyway, I'll shut up now........g'nite!

Thank you skinnymom. The pre op diet was awesome. It was low fat and low sodium, and it was mainly to shrink the liver for the operation. And it worked wonderfully. Not many dr's at all do this diet. But right before the operation, I only had to go on a 24hr clear liquid diet, which i have heard that most people do lots more clear liquids, or they have to drink this stuff to clean out their system.

Hello everyone! I'm back, hopefully more often now. Okay, lets fill you in on my saga..... Okay, you remember my best friend Derek, with the drug problem, right? Well, he is a CNA at a nursing home. He took off work for a few days to help me out after and during the surgery. He has been terrific. He stayed the first 3 days with me at my home and took care of me in anyway he could. He truly redeemed himself. Okay, my other friend that I go to musicals and such with, her name is Rachel. This is the self centered one. Well, she waits until 4 days after the surgery to call me, and she wanted to know if we were still going to see 'Cats' this past Friday. I was like, uh no, I had surgery, and I'm to sore to go. It's like she didn't even care if I was okay or not. Found out she was in the hospital for some tests on the day of my surgery. She couldn't even go up 2 floors to see if I was alive or anything! I have heard more from her mother than her. Her mom was mad at her for not telling her that I was in the hospital the same day. Now, is she selfish or what??? Yeah, you're telling me! GRRRRRRRRRR. Anyway, my surgery went great, and I continue to be doing wonderful. I am on full liquids right now, and I am actually cheating a bit, and last night I had part of a chicken breast. I ate slowly, and chewed my food well, so it was fine, no problems at all. You just never know! Anyway, no mood swings, no sadness, no nothing, just happy and enjoying my time off! Take care my friends and I hope to hear from you all. *hugz to you all*

Hey ENE, my dr. had me on only 3 days of clear liquids, then 2 weeks of full liquids, which includes your protein shakes. I am in the full liquids stage right now, but I have had a few little bites of food, just chewed it well, and haven't had a problem at all. I also don't know the difference between the 2 bands, and I don't know which one I got, but I don't think it was the Swedish. Anyway, if you feel like trying a shake, I say go for it, just do it slowly. Baby steps!!!!

Hello Everyone! I was banded on Dec. 26th, and so far things are going wonderfully! With the pre-op diet they had me on, I have now lost a total of 43 pounds in the past month! I'm doing the happy dance now! Can't wait to hear from lots of you.

Well, I did it. Can't believe I actually went through with it. But it's great! My surgery went very well, with no complications. I'm just sore right now, nothing out of the ordinary, but you know I like to complain cuz I'm a whiner, and a wuss. Yeah, that's right, I'm proud of it, I'm a big baby. Actually, I'm doing just great! But I'm gonna go lay down again. Talk to ya all lata! Tia, thanx for the message! *smiles*

Well, I did it. Can't believe I actually went through with it. But it's great! My surgery went very well, with no complications. I'm just sore right now, nothing out of the ordinary, but you know I like to complain cuz I'm a whiner, and a wuss. Yeah, that's right, I'm proud of it, I'm a big baby. Actually, I'm doing just great! But I'm gonna go lay down again. Talk to ya all lata! Tia, thanx for the message! *smiles*

Well, tomorrow is the day, and I'm excited. Not nervous yet, but then again, I don't get nervous about things like this. I had my 24 hours of clear liquids, and I didn't cheat at all. I know, I can't believe it either! Anyway, Thank you Tia, Teresita, and Leigh, you all have been great, I'm sure I'll make it through with no problems, but just in case, you all mean a lot to me. Now that that is out of the way, I'm heading to bed now, gotta get up in 5 hours to get ready for this thing. Anyway, I'm happy and excited. I shall talk to you all when I get back home in a couple days. Lata! *big hugs*

Well, tomorrow is the day, and I'm excited. Not nervous yet, but then again, I don't get nervous about things like this. I had my 24 hours of clear liquids, and I didn't cheat at all. I know, I can't believe it either! Anyway, Thank you Tia, Teresita, and Leigh, you all have been great, I'm sure I'll make it through with no problems, but just in case, you all mean a lot to me. Now that that is out of the way, I'm heading to bed now, gotta get up in 5 hours to get ready for this thing. Anyway, I'm happy and excited. I shall talk to you all when I get back home in a couple days. Lata! *big hugs*

Well, I have been naughty.....and it feels GREAT!!!!! *evil laugh* Okay, not that naughty, except that I will be on Unjury shakes all day tomorrow to pay for today. I'm still between 25 and 30 pounds weight loss for the pre-op diet. Not bad. I've only got a week to go. I'm so very excited. It should be good. Of course, I think I'm looking forward mostly to the 2 weeks off. Now, it won't be a full 2 weeks. I'll have to show up to work a little. Oh well, it happens.