I had to see my gastric doc today even though I've been avoiding her since I had my first colonoscopy 2 years ago, a colonoscopy that was never satisfactorily completed. This was the colonoscopy from hell. It appears that I have an unusually long and twisty colon and the team that was hanging out inside my butt was not at all generous with the kind of meds that are supposed to keep the whole experience light and fun. Anyhow, they never did manage to see the end of my colon even though they made a number of runs at it and kept me in the colon room for a really long time. (I know that they kept me there for an abnormally long time because the recovery nurse told me so.)

The upshot of the failed colonoscopy was that she wanted me to have a barium enema. Her office made the appointment. I cancelled. I was traumatised, you see.

So since my last visit my kid brother has died of bowel cancer and that increases my own odds exponentially and I have an enlarged liver to boot.

I had to see her today and I had to tell her about the lapband. Turns out that I am her first ever lapband patient. She knew nothing much about it. And because I am not morbidly obese, she wanted to know why I didn't just diet and exercise. Why did I spend 16Gs on surgery? She was starting to treat me like a nut. I was starting to feel like a nut and defensive as well.

Then she feels my liver and boy does it feel fat! It seems that fat people often have fat livers. Mine is a monster! It is almost a third over sized. I am horrified by the news about my liver. As for my bowel, I feel kinda casual. This doc is interested in 'em both but more interested in the bowel.

Going to a specialist is always stressful but I guess I found that I was extra stressed by having to both explain and defend my choice of weight loss surgery over simple diet and exercise. To tell you the truth, this left a bit of a foul taste in my mouth. I did let her push my port though. :rolleyes

Ohhhhhh, your sooo smart!!!

Green: I am almost as light as you (I'm at 184) and I have having what seem to be the same feelings/problems as you. I am only filled at 1.8 cc right now (regular Inamed Band) and I cannot feel any restriction after two (count 'em 2) fills. Now I have to wait until after Thanksgiving (for God's sake) for another opportunity for a fill.

I can eat bread - even gooey bread - no problem. I can eat salad - no problem. I can eat any protein source - no problem. I sucked down a slice of Pumpkin Pound Cake last night - no problem. The biggest problem is that I had no desire to skip the Pound Cake like I would have a few weeks ago. Now that isn't going to get me to the 140 lb. mark or even the 150 lb. mark. I'm worried, like you. I am not wanting to think about food all the time or be able to eat any quantity or guality of food without restriction. That's what I bought this little tool for - not just to have 5 cute little incision marks on my heretofore flawless belly.

So babycakes, hang in there and wish me the same and by golly let's us go get some more saline solution!

I have restriction and I can eat everything I've tried so far, including bread, rice, potato, egg, pasta, steak, chicken etc. However, I have to take very small bites, chew it to mush and take a break inbetween bites.

Green: I have had restriction with every fill for a small period of time but as I continue to lose the weight, I also lose the restriction and then go for another fill....maybe that's what is happening to you?????

I am losing very very slowly now, even though I eat such small amounts of food I think I need to be more conscious of what I eat.....went on a blue cheese binge for about a month.....nobody needs to tell me to "Put down the cheese"....I figured out that one for myself...LOL

Carol

Green: I am almost as light as you (I'm at 184) and I have having what seem to be the same feelings/problems as you. I am only filled at 1.8 cc right now (regular Inamed Band) and I cannot feel any restriction after two (count 'em 2) fills. Now I have to wait until after Thanksgiving (for God's sake) for another opportunity for a fill.

I can eat bread - even gooey bread - no problem. I can eat salad - no problem. I can eat any protein source - no problem. I sucked down a slice of Pumpkin Pound Cake last night - no problem. The biggest problem is that I had no desire to skip the Pound Cake like I would have a few weeks ago. Now that isn't going to get me to the 140 lb. mark or even the 150 lb. mark. I'm worried, like you. I am not wanting to think about food all the time or be able to eat any quantity or guality of food without restriction. That's what I bought this little tool for - not just to have 5 cute little incision marks on my heretofore flawless belly.

So babycakes, hang in there and wish me the same and by golly let's us go get some more saline solution!

Thanx, kiddo, for the support. It's true that I can eat anything. I want and need more saline!:help: I paid 16000 Cdn bucks for this gadget to help me get normal! It's a good thing that I am scheduled for another fill this Tuesday. I will get to find out how much I weigh at the same time.

Then it's off for physio for my torn rotator cuff, the problem that prevents going to the gym and working on my abominable abdominals.

Oh crap, a torn rotator cuff. I've heard that's really painful and tedious injury to heal. My heart goes out to you. Hang in there.

I have totally shot knees. I have no alternative but to have them both replaced. I was told that I must lose 10% of my weight in order to have successful knee surgery. That brought me to the Lap Band. Now I can't exercise either (except limited exercise in water) and losing and toning when you can't exercise is difficult, but hopefully not impossible. I am determined to reach 150 within a reasonable length of time and I intend to get down to 140 and maintain.

We're both screwed to some extent Green, but as an old Englishman once said, we'll "never, never, never give up!"

Yah, a wrecked rotator cuff is really painful and takes forever to get fixed; the physiotherapist and two of my friends who have suffered from it themselves have told me this.

Shot knees seem to be something that are plaguing the baby boomer generation, BJean. It has become an increasingly requested operation up here in Canada and it seems that it is placing some stress on our health care system. There are often longish wait times for this operation depending on where you live and the people who need replacements are in a lot of pain, not to mention kind of handicapped, during the waiting period. Moreover, the new knees only last about 20 years.

My mother had her knee replaced when she was in her early 80s. I will never forget the day. She had her operation on 9/11. I was at home worrying about her when my tenant called from work to tell me that a plane had flown into one of the World Trade Towers. Her office was in a flap over the news but they had got it wrong: they thought that it was a light plane and that it had been an accident. I turned on the television that morning, something that I never do. You can well imagine my shock. This is something that we all shared that day.

I spent the day worrying about my mother and worrying about America. It was the most surreal day of my life.

BJean, you will be pleased to hear that my antique Mum quickly healed from her knee surgery though not without much pain and cursing during her sessions of physio....

A binge of blue cheese, Woodys! What a way to fall off the wagon! I lurv blue cheese! I lurv all strong cheeses. Cheese is what made Green fat! The French boyfriend taught me how to make a lovely blue cheese vinaigrette. *sigh* I have an unopened bar of crumbly Danish blue lurking in my fridge right now. It has been there for awhile now - since before my banding in fact - and I know that this chunk o cheese is calling to me. It would be mighty nice done up with slices of potato and olive oil and then baked.... And Fall is the season of comfort food.... This green girl needs more saline solution.

Although I feel no restriction I have been making a point of chew, chew, chewing my food before swallowing. And I have been paying some attention to what I eat and how much I eat. This is a deliberate move on my part. Because I sense no restriction I am so afraid that I could slip back into gorging platesful of food.

Wow! This has been a long post from Green, eh!

On a lighter note:

Shot knees seem to be something that are plaguing the baby boomer generation, BJean. It has become an increasingly requested operation up here in Canada and it seems that it is placing some stress on our health care system.

Maybe you guys should stop gettin' on 'em so much! *mmmmmmmuaaaahahahahaha*

Argon!!!!! you are Baaaaaaad.:heh: :lick Or maybe that is just my dirty mind.:heh:

Maria

Hah, my DH only wishes it were true! Bought me knee pads once but I didn't go for it.

Green, my 84 yr. old Father had just had surgery for an aortic aneurism and somehow they botched it. (Not too surprising since this is a surgery that is frequently botched.) His systems started shutting down but they put him on life support and managed to keep him alive for a couple of months. That was a miserable state of affairs, but another story.

The deal was that when I called my Dad a day or so after 9/11 and he'd been watching it all on TV, he asked me if that was what happened to him.

My Dad had been a vital active man prior to the surgery. Still driving himself and friends to Bingo and the doctor. So I suffered some fairly surreal moments too right about then. eh?

P.S. Hurrah for your Mom, the trooper!

Mmmmm green, when you get up off your knees, oh sorry thats BJean, lol, I would love that recipe for the blue cheese vinigarette.

Mmmmm green, when you get up off your knees, oh sorry thats BJean, lol, I would love that recipe for the blue cheese vinigarette.

Hah! Ya never would thought that the boomers would be spending their lives on their knees, eh? Hahahaha. (Green is not religious and as for the other thing...well....she is very lazy and prefers to work on her back!:heh: )

Philippe's blue cheese vinaigrette: dijon mustard, olive oil, blue cheese, and vinegar. Crushed garlic is optional but good. Mash the above, leaving out the vinegar, in a bowl until these elements look like a paste. Sniff. Sniffing is good, you know. Add the vinegar until this paste is fluid. (I love the taste of vinegar and I use apple cider vinegar. The acidity of this can be toned down by using a few drops of Balsamic vinegar.) Of course cold pressed extra virgin olive oil is the best and you do need to add enough vinegar so that the salad dressing flows.

This is a really strong salad dressing and so works well for salads that are carb rich. It is a great dressing for salads with potatoes or for chick peas. (I suspect, no! I am sure that I have gained some of my weight through hoovering down carbs and a blue cheese vinaigrette!:eek: )

Sounds yummy Green, must try it.

On a lighter note:

Maybe you guys should stop gettin' on 'em so much! *mmmmmmmuaaaahahahahaha*

Verrrrry good Mandi....I'm so proud of you!!!

Oh so Green, you're a "working girl"?