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I am not a good person to ask either but last year I did get alot of recipes of this site and used them. If you do some queries on recipes in the food category, you should be able to find those threads. I haven't had an appetite so here's a typical menu breakfast - south beach meal replacement bar lunch - tomato, cucumber, sprouts with balsamic vinegar and spices dinner - green beans, small potato, fake crab usually fried in a little olive oil with onions, garlic, peppers, etc The large lower fat avacados are readily available here so sometimes I mix one with tuna, add some sprouts and I'm set for a few meals. Last night, I cooked up black beans, some ground steak, added tomatoes, onions, spices, etc for a soup. I will probably throw some black beans in a salad at lunch in the next couple of days. I supplement with protein shakes, etc. Sorry I don't have better suggestions but I am finding that simple things work best.

on that same note.... I'm a Canadian and on some of my travels to the US I have gotten some strange queries. Don't get me wrong; I'm not saying all Americans are this "daft" but these ones certainly were!!! When some Americans find out I'm Canadian, they assume the strangest things about Canada. I've been asked the fol (the scary thing being that they were indeed, serious!): - "do you live in an Igloo?" - " do you eat whale blubber?" - " do you have grass"? - "oh, you live in Canada? You must know my cousin, twice removed..." (yeah, cause there is ONLY 300 people who live in Canada and so the chances are good....) -"Your King rules Canada doesn't he" I've had Americans think the capitol of Canada is Quebec. Quebec is a PROVINCE, not a city (altho there is Quebec City). The funniest was..."oh Canada. Ya, I heard you have a mall up there now". "A mall?", says I. "Ummmmm, yeah, we actually have a lot of malls in Canada...now that we have roads and such". "That's good...malls are good for the economy", he says. "errrr ya, we're not gonna be part of the 3rd world anymore". AAAARRRRRRRRRRGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!

I'm 8 weeks post op and my port pain has virtually gone now. I say this but I haven't tried swimming yet - I'm trying to figure out how to keep the chlorine from leeching the color out of hair (just went from bleachy to auburn which is closer to my natural color. But I'm rambling.) My port hurt a lot of the time until about a week ago when it just stopped. If I sit leaning forward for too long wearing jeans it will give a little twinge but nothing like before. I'm taking this as a good sign that the pain will eventually disappear altogether. In answer to your original query, I think it's normal and nothing to worry about - unless it gets red or hot or oozy.

:help: Hi there, i was hoping some of you may be able to help me before i ring up my doctor and sound like a paranoid whinger! A week ago i got my first fill, now i dont know how much i got put in because he didnt tell me and i forgot to ask. now a few days later i am experiencing throwing up ( only once so far but feeling a second one coming on as i am writing this) and feel all weak and flustered. :cry Im also worried to eat now aswell as that was the case the first time when i threw up.I am still drinking water though. does anyone know what it may be. im not over eating and im not doing anything abnormal than what i have been since i had the band put in about 5 weeks ago!! :help:

Yes, (sigh) I have another query! Apparently I'm allowed to have a shower the 3rd day after surgery (which will be on Monday). Obviously my steri-strips will still be on (I was told they should stay on for 7-10 days). So...is it okay if they get wet? I need some re-assurance...I don't want to infect anything; I'm prone to not healing well in the first place. So ya....showers...is the question. Tks all.

Hi Ceparano I have just emailed my dr with all these queries and will await his reply. Yip - this does not sound right - no tests, no pre-op diet, no psyc, no dieticians (before op)!

:clap2: Hi everyone well its now been one week since ive been banded and i guess i just over worry but im still in pain especially near the port area,its like a sharp pain! and it doesnt seem to be fading away!am i just over paranoid? it also still hurts when i burp or cough!! i have spent all week in bed relaxing, the food has been going down well although the fullness adds to the pain a bit more, but ill cop that!!! can anyone tell me what pains they experienced, did they have trouble sleeping? my back hurts now because of the way i have been sleeping due to the pain. i guess im a big sook!! where is everyone from? im from melbourne, australia and got banded by Dr, Nottle!. hear from you all soon!!!:clap2: :kiss2: :kiss2: :kiss2:

im down 10 lbs. i was told that the first 6 weeks were all about healing and letting the band settle; and also not being able to eat. thats not all bad considering that i have absolutely no appetite. in the last week, i've had one butternut squash campbells soup (two sittings) with no problem. a day later i tried the roasted pepper soup (yuk). a day later i tried some grits. yup grits. i was craving them. i had 1/4 cup and made them really runny. cream of wheat consistency. tonight... a soft scrambled egg. heaven!!! i ate it soooo slowly. savored every bite. AND IT STAYED DOWN. yeha. inbetween all of that food, i've kept myself well hydrated. reading many of the posts, queries, replys, cries, and goals, i have gleaned lots of tips from bandsters and future bandsters. yesterday i was able to work for one hour before i went home and slept, today i put in 6 hours... tomorrow i must begin working full days. we'll see what tomorrow will brings.

im down 10 lbs. i was told that the first 6 weeks were all about healing and letting the band settle; and also not being able to eat. thats not all bad considering that i have absolutely no appetite. in the last week, i've had one butternut squash campbells soup (two sittings) with no problem. a day later i tried the roasted pepper soup (yuk). a day later i tried some grits. yup grits. i was craving them. i had 1/4 cup and made them really runny. cream of wheat consistency. tonight... a soft scrambled egg. heaven!!! i ate it soooo slowly. savored every bite. AND IT STAYED DOWN. yeha. inbetween all of that food, i've kept myself well hydrated. reading many of the posts, queries, replys, cries, and goals, i have gleaned lots of tips from bandsters and future bandsters. yesterday i was able to work for one hour before i went home and slept, today i put in 6 hours... tomorrow i must begin working full days. we'll see what tomorrow will brings.

OMG and LOL (to be read while chuckling - or at least smiling) Can someone help me pull my BIG foot out of my BIG mouth?! :confused: I hereby apologize to any and all who were offended by my spelling/grammar rant. I frequently put the apostrophe in the wrong place. Ditto the comma. I certainly don't hold a grudge against anyone who types and posts without previewing to be sure they got it right. I'm sure I get it wrong A LOT. I was simply replying to the query "why is YOUR nose bent out of shape... " and now I feel really bad that people think I'm a grammar Nazi. I'm not. Although I have to be honest here and admit I'm not really sorry I posted that - it produced a very amusing thread. WORLD'S MOST ANNOYING MISPRONUNCIATION: President George W. Bush: Nuc-u-lar for Nuclear And he JUST KEEPS SAYING IT! He sounds like the biggest dumbass! and he JUST KEEPS SAYING IT! ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!:lalala: DonnaB 5' 9" 03-07-06 Surgery date Dr. Roberto Rumbaut, Monterrey, Mexico 282 (Dr's office today) (crap)/150

One of the garden club members just posted a message to my query about Blossom's husband. He thanks everybody for keeping her in their thoughts. The garden club dedicated a mini memorial in the rose garden at LISDOLA with a rose she had propogated. One of the garden club members made a copper tripod for it. It is by the bench just off the parking area. Anybody is welcome to go there. I realize most people don't live close enough but thought you might like to know. M

Howdy folks! Another glorious day in NY - DONE! Yippee, that much closer to Saturday. Pat - Oh yeah, I am getting the vision... tight leather pants and a leather halter. Got any tattoos? Come on, we know you must have been a wild child at least once in your life... LOL! OK, OK, we'll stop. But it is just such an incongruous vision that it makes me laugh. I just can't imagine you dressing anything like that (without laughing) because it seems SOOOOO "not Pat". Good luck with the hiring thing. So many of the young folks these days just DON'T have any work ethic. And you just fee free to vent whenever you want to. That's why we are here. Paula - that add is just crazy-tacky - but boy would it get your attention on the freeway. Yikes! Too funny... Patty - Yay for Life Experience! I think they just mean because you actually HAVE kids, you are more likely to know when it's no big thing, and when you should call the ER. Besides, there is something comforting about a Mom that a 21 year old chickie cannot possibly duplicate - and that's what you need in a school nurse. Betty - GO MAVS!! I am such a "root for the home team" kind of gal. And I opted NOT to do the whole NYC downtown dinner thing tonight. I have big black circles under my eyes because I never sleep properly in a hotel, even a nice one. The downtown thing just seemed like too much. Eileenie - any ideas on things to do on Saturday? **IRA - We can always have coffee right here at the Pearl River Hilton...or I can come to you. I have the vehicle thing covered. You can reach me to make plans at 845-735-9000 - rm 201 Cindy - yesterday was some kind of a fluke on the internet thing. Today they queried me for my name and room number. $5/day for internet at the Pearl River Hilton. Of course, countless other hotels do offer free internet, so you can choose your hotel accordingly. Well, friends, I have to go and scrounge some dinner. hugs!

Thanks everyone - it is a dream for me. I have literally been scheming this one for about two years. Sept. 04 - DH and I went to Wesern Carribean on a cruise and I met the comedian who performed the first night the next morning when Don & I got up to see the sunrise. Being me - I just had to go talk to him and then I went down to my cabin and got him some of my work and showed him and then proceeded to pump him for the "how do you do this" info I wanted. The same cruise I met a lady in the Hot Tub who happened to tell me that she was the enrichment speaker that day. Of course I asked her a bunch of questions but she really didn't give me anything concrete. I left that cruise and went home and sent out proposals and query letters to a Royal Carribean representative and after a couple of letters back and forth - that lead didn't go anywhere. Time went by and it is Sept. 2005 and DH and I are on an unplanned - impromptu cruise in the Western Carribean again and we are in the hot tub soaking up the bubbles on a particularly choppy day cause of Hurrican Katrina off in the distance. An older Gentleman joined us in the hot tub and just started to talk to DH and I about all kinds of stuff - one of which was that he was working for the cruise line and cruising literally (almost free) doing hardly nothing. I of course had to ask questions and he told me everything and then told me to call him when we all went back to our rooms to get ready for dinner so that he could give me the agency name, address, and owners name, etc. so that I could apply for the things I had in mind that I wanted to do as an enrichment speaker on a cruise. I came home and sent off my application and waited. Nothing. I sent off a little reminder email. Nothing. Then the first week of Jan. on Tuesday I was back in my studio office working and I decided to send the Agency a little tickler letter to see if I could get them to respond. I figured it was the first week of the month (particularly in business this week is notorius for doing absolutely nothing) so I figured it would be now or never to get a response. It worked - the fish took the bait and now I am planning cruises with DH and we are going to be in Hawaii next December for three weeks while I do my seminars. In August - 1st of September - I am planning a trip (working) with my dear friend and sister in law and we are going to go to New York and Bermuda for a week. (We are soooo excited) Then the agent told me next year (2007) I would have a better selection of dates and itineraries to choose from. We can't wait. So all I can say - is don't give up on your dreams. And by the way - this isn't my main dream - that dream is still out there and I feel that this doorway is going to be very responsible for me finding the doorway of the next step leading to my real dream. And that is to become a famous poetry artist and sell my commissioned poetry art all over the world. I envision doing this through cruise ships. That is my dream. And I think I am going to see it. I am very awed by that thought - but I think now - I am getting close. My seminars are varied and some of the titles are Goddess, Angel, Loving Soul.... Wouldn't you choose......Happy? Sketching for fun Soul Quests....Searching for Joy It would be great to do a lap band cruise sometime - maybe our resident arrangers could figure that out. And I would do a special seminar for the Ladies. As far as the poems - I will try to put up a thread and post some for you to review. I don't really put them on a web site as I am very gaurded with my work and usually only publish in magazines, books or do exclusive exhibits of my Poetry Art Walls. But I will share them with you on a seperate thread. If anyone wants to email me you can at visualpoetryart@aol.com for any info on my poetry - my artwork - etc. Thanks for the encouraging words and support. Best of all - Losing the weight will truly help my self esteem when I am taking charge of this endeavor. That's my NSV for the YEAR!!!!!!!

Hi everyone, In my former life (before kids) I was a credentials coordinator for a large area hospital system. What that means in a nutshell is that I queried various agencies and organizations and obtained references to make sure that the physicians applying to be on the medical staff were competent and well trained. The general public can't make a lot of the queries by themselves, but there are some things you can do to make sure that the lapband doctor, and for that matter any doctor that you choose is well trained. 1. Call the state licensing board for the state you live in. Michigan has a 900 number where you can call and find out if there are any disciplinary actions against the doc. All you need is the correct name spelling for any MI licensed practitioner. If there are disciplinary actions (usually drug use, license suspensions, etc) they have to send you a copy of the report. Each state has their own licensing board, and they should all have some way for you to find out if any doc is in good standing. We've all heard the stories about the people who were killed or injured by crazies who walked into a hospital and they didn't even have a license. 2. Ask the office where the doc went to medical school, where they had their residency, and what type of residency it was. In my personal opinion (so please don't sue me) I would steer clear of anyone who went to the American University of the Caribbean for medical school. It's considered the school of last resort after every other school has rejected you... Again, just my personal opinion. 3. Find out where they are on the medical staff. Call the hospital and ask for the credentialing department. If they don't have one, ask for the medical staff office. Explain that you are going to be seeing a new doctor, and find out if they can recommend a good one. Depending on the experience/helpfulness of the person, they will probably steer you towards the doc who is most respected in their field. 4. Another note about training: depending on when the physician went through their training, the length of their residency may vary. For example, there are still a few older family docs out there who had a 1 year internship after medical school and that's it. Make sure your doc has had at the minimum a 3 year internship/residency. If they are a specialist they should also have an additional 1-2 year fellowship. I hope you guys find this helpful, and again these are just my personal opinions.

I'll let you know. I may end up using BandedLawyer.com (Steve Kalman). He has responded to my query. For $300 he will file my appeal with decent hope of success...

I have researched the Medicare online site to find a codeSince I did not see any response from your query. I have not had the surgery yet so don't know if these are acceptable for Medicare from first hand experience. I found : New code 44.95 Laparoscopic gastric restrictive procedure Adjustable gastric band and post insertion Excludes: Laproscopic gastroplasty (44.68) other repair of stomach (44.69 44.98 Laparoscopic adjustment of size of adjustable gastric restrictive device Infusion of saline for device tightening (88.76) Withdrawal of saline for device loosening Code also any: Abdominal ultrasound (88.76) Abdominal wall flouroscopy (88.09) Barium Swallow (87.61)

OK, I've been on a liquid diet for 5 Weeks - and I was SOOOOO excited to go to the doctors today and be advanced to 'soft' and then 'regular' foods. I had decided a portion of a Veggie Soft Taco from Taco Time would be my treat for a job well done. I didn't drink anything until the doctors office to maximize my weight loss (I also wore shorts and thongs). OK, I get there, I did well, my mouth is just salivating - I talk to the doctor - he asks me how I'm doing - I'm doing great - no problems - excep HUNGER! I tell him about a little stitch poking out, he says climb up on the table "I'm going to feel you". My physician has an accent - but I got ready, and he took a long time to get something to remove the suture with, and came back in with a cart. He started filling needs and I said, what are you doin? He said "I'm going to feel you". I queried "why do you need a needle to feel me?". I couldn't believe it - he was going to "fill me". Of course, I was excited. Then came the words. MORE liquids for 2-3 days, and then of course - restriction. I just feel like going and slurping up some ranch sauce - I want that taco so bad! Oh well. But hey - my sister decided to do my diet with me - and she lost 18 pounds this month! She's smaller than me - and DID GREAT. I called her and let her know about my loss (just slightly more than her) - He must have known I was going to eat - he just must have known! I thought it was funny - but I'm happy.

Alegra works like a champ for me! (gotta break them in half though) If you have a real alergy problems, have you considered alergy shots? I hate slow days at work! I had to runs some queries on my system that absolutely killed my computer for days on end. Sure, I ended up with some interesting data, but oh man! I spent most of that time sketching, because I couldn't do anything else. Yup, you know what to do, and that is the first step. ((((hugs))))

Here's this huge link where they explain about voting for the worst, and it even has a picture of Scott's prison mug shot. They should all be sued and arrested... now THAT would make some great reality TV! ROCK ON, CONSTANTINE! XOXOXO http://search.aimhome.netscape.com/aim/boomframe.jsp?query=vote+for+the+worst+idol&page=1&offset=0&result_url=redir%3Fsrc%3Dwebsearch%26requestId%3D3aff4f74b4c01041%26clickedItemRank%3D1%26userQuery%3Dvote%2Bfor%2Bthe%2Bworst%2Bidol%26clickedItemURN%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.griffinity.com%252Fdave%252F%26invocationType%3D-%26fromPage%3DAIMToolbar%26amp%3BampTest%3D1&remove_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.griffinity.com%2Fdave%2F

Well, I just went to the market. Partly to get out of the house, partly to get in some supplies. I feel OK. A little light headed and a little bit of stinging around my wound, but the walk was no problem. I bought some consomme soup and pro-biotic drinks. I also bought some Spirulina. Does anyone else take this? My local health food store said it is a good source of protein if you're on a liquid diet. It also has B12 and Iron in it so should prevent hair loss. My doc also recommended Prune juice to try and get things moving - and dammit if I can't find it anywhere! I bought some prunes and will make my own in the blender with some apple juice and water. If I pass it through a seive it should be thin enough I hope. I came home and had half a can of consomme (in two attempts) and I feel full as an egg. Hoping I'm not eating too much, but I'm also worried about passing out - I do feel quite light headed and can't even concentrate to the Telegraph crossword, which I usually do in an hour. Another query for you guys - Driving - how long until it's OK to drive? I suppose I should check with my insurance. I know after a Caesarian it's 6 weeks but I'm hoping to get back to driving soon. I succumbed to the temptation to step on the scale this morning. 2lbs down! Doesn't meant anything I know, but at least I can update my signature!

Im really bad at jokes & always halh remember them... but here goes: A mature aged lady goes to her doc for a face lift. Amazingly there is a new invention that will supposidly solve all her problems. Its a device that is fitted & there is a skrew put at the back of your head that can be turned to ever tighten the face lift as need be. Well, the lady was estatic & desperately wanted the new face lift. All went well & the lady went away very happy with her new younger looking face. Years went by & all the lady had to do was turn the nob at the back of her head to lift the skin as it sagged. It seemed like a dream come true. However after 10 years or so the lady noticed some unusual things that concerned her. She went back to her doctor & queried why she suddenly had these big bags under her eyes. The doctor almost fell off her chair in shock. The doctor yelled out `those arent bags, you must have tightened the device too much...those are your boobs!`. To which the lady responded..` Well, I guess that explains the new goaty on my chin!`. I also have a religious type joke: Two men were standing at the pearly gates waiting to go into heaven. They were asked questions about their fidelity, good deeds etc. One of the guys was without fault. He had never cheated on his wife, he had been a helpful husband, honest & caring. He had never belted her or even looked at another woman. He was given a Roles Royce to drive in heaven. The other guy was not without faults. He had had an affair, but only one & it was brief. He had dabbled in pornagraphy. He liked to drink with his mates & he didnt help out with the kids. This guy was given a Ford Commodore to drive in heaven. Well, one day the Ford guy drives past the RR guy & notices he is crying his eyes out. What on earth are you crying for, he askes. You have everything, look at you, you are driving a RR for G-ds sack! The RR guy answers ` Yes, but I just saw my wife. And shes driving a scooter!`

Just a query, Have your sizing systems changed to be the same as AUstralia? When I watch US tv sizes are ridiculous - 2, 4, 6 etc. You guys are all talking same or similar to me. I am 163cm or 5'4 and weigh about 208lbs and have for the first time in my life fit into an 18 top AND an 18 bottom on the same day!!If i tried on my 18's from target I could have really bought a 16 in pants anyway.:cool:

Thank you Janie - I certainly find writing down how I'm feeling helpful, I find it helps sort stuff out in my head a bit. Hi Leatha - I live in Scotland, UK so our health service is slightly different than in the states. I agree that it is imperative that we arrange for a support network prior to surgery. I did that before I had my surgery and am in contact with a surgeon closer to home who I can contact with any queries/worries/further treatment, although I do have the option to return to Lyon which is only a couple of hours away from the UK. I'm approaching my first bandiversary and so far I haven't had any band problems, but it is something that I am very aware of. I agree whole heartedly that anyone contemplating surgery make sure that they have the aftercare in place pre surgery. Although we all focus on our surgery date, it is actually the work we do afterwards that is the most important as regards achieving optimum health and weight loss. I also believe that it is important that we address the psychological aspect of our obesity if we are to maintain permanent weight loss. I think potential band problems such as slippage, band erosion is something that most bandsters dread. If I was unable to have another band placed or have the problem fixed surgically I just don't know what I would do. The band would still be my surgery of choice, and if that option was out of the equation I would find it virtually impossible to come to terms with the thought of undergoing an alternative surgery. My long term goal is to have worked through my issues with food/the psychological issues enough that I could at least maintain my weight without any surgical intervention. I'm a long, long way off being anywhere near that stage currently but I recognise that it isn't a total impossibility and as long as I am able to form independent thought and make my own choices it is in the realms of possibility. I strongly believe that the only limitations we have are the ones we place on ourselves. It has taken me a long time and a lot of work to acknowledge that I need to take responsibililty for myself and my actions but I think that I will only truly achieve a level of contentment within myself and my weight when I have done so. It is a long, hard slog and I am still fairly early on in thep process, but I think it is worth pursing. The journey I have chosen to embark on is constantly evolving and sometimes it may feel like the goalposts are forever moving, but if I don't work at it the alternatives are a lot more frightening and frustrating. This is truly work in progress ..... Sending you all positive thoughts.

I just visited the OTHER board to see what all the fuss was about - (I normally avoid the yahoo boards as I find them kinda confusing - never can find the begining or end of threads...) - and can I just say how shocked I was to read people's responses to Donali and Delarla? I mean, actually SHOCKED - forget about any bandster to bandster respect, what the hell happened to manners or just plain politeness? So apparently some of these "oldtimers" have achieved great things on the weightloss front, well done - but they have become arrogant, rude, and condescending in the process. I may be pretty naive, and perhaps spoiled by mainly visiting "our" friendly forum, but I had no idea people would reply to a query or comment in such a horrendously rude manner.... it's like some horrible 80's teen clique movie - honestly, have I mentioned how SHOCKED I am? Sheeeeesh.....I'm off to bed shocked. I am genuinely shocked. :speechles :eek :speechles :eek :speechles :eek

thanks for the compliments - I'm blushin here! Shelley, can't believe how amazing you are doing - i am hereby demanding full list of your hints and tips! You must feel fantastic! So wish I was where you and Donali are - big congrats hugs from me xx And Jennye - HELLO!!!! Check out my (v badly fake tanned!) feet in the photo where I'm wearing hubby's Ireland shirt, and you will see my fave pink flower flip flops! And in answer to Marsha's jokey query, I have actually gone down two shoe sizes - you can see the flip flops are big on me - my feet are all the way " in", but they are still huge - I have had such fun buying shoes since I've lost some weight - I used to take an european 42 and now take a 38 (think that's an american 10 to an 8!) And Vera, I have my super critical mother-in-law eating bags of prunes a day - the poor woman can't be more than ten feet from a bathroom - me bad!