I've been spending a lot of time in Rants & Raves since I joined LBT, partly because it's fun, but also because for the most part it's very GLBT friendly. Unless I haven't looked in the right place, I don't think there's a support thread for us, so I decided to start one!

A little about me. I'm Eddie & I'm a 42-year-old Gay man. I have a partner of just over nine years (henceforth referred to as DH), a 17-year-old son and 16-year-old daughter. DH and I are stupid. Don't believe me, just ask our kids. DH has hypothyroidism and had not been able to lose any weight after his thyroid "went nuts" several years ago. I've just been overweight all my life. He was banded on 2/21/07 and I'm getting mine next Wednesday (5/16). I can't wait!

Anyway, I would love to hear from all the GLBT folks out there. Hopefully this can be a place for us to freely discuss our unique issues and get support we may not be able to get elsewhere.

OMG, we started back this week, I call the first week back hell week. I run the transportation dept. for a small school district we transport about 700 students. I am always surprised that 4th and 5th graders have no clue of where they live. And Middle school and High school students well we won't even go there. Another thing that just gets my goat is, people who pop out kids and expect the schools to raise there kids. I had to move a bus stop because the parents are to darn lazy to walk down one block and pick them up. They cried for so long and loud that I was forced too. OH I was so PISSED.

Well any way I am back to to normal, I think ? Is there any normal life for any of us?

Any way hope all have a great weekend.

OMG, we started back this week, I call the first week back hell week. I run the transportation dept. for a small school district we transport about 700 students. I am always surprised that 4th and 5th graders have no clue of where they live. And Middle school and High school students well we won't even go there. Another thing that just gets my goat is, people who pop out kids and expect the schools to raise there kids. I had to move a bus stop because the parents are to darn lazy to walk down one block and pick them up. They cried for so long and loud that I was forced too. OH I was so PISSED.

Well any way I am back to to normal, I think ? Is there any normal life for any of us?

Any way hope all have a great weekend.

What is normal? I don't think I have meet anyone with a normal life yet, but I am sure they are out there.

I am from ark, I have been reading your story I am so glady for you I had it done in aug 2006 I love the band it has changed me for ever I have a partner for 17 years she is the man and we love each other so much but we are haveing problems due to other things in are life but you know you just need to talk with others who are like you good luck god bless you and yours

The teachers come back on Wednesday and they are more difficult to deal with than the students. (Sorry Pamela) Their whine is monumental..."summer's over...boo hoo." Those of us who work 12 months a year at the school are full a big ol' plate of bite me.

Funny, it's always the same few teachers who gripe.

Got my fill yesterday under flouro. I can feel the difference, I haven't tried anything more than mushies, and they do go down...along with drinking plenty, I'm feeling great!

As of right now I'm only 100 pounds overweight!!!!! A new mile stone!!!

:ranger:[

Got my fill yesterday under flouro. I can feel the difference, I haven't tried anything more than mushies, and they do go down...along with drinking plenty, I'm feeling great!

As of right now I'm only 100 pounds overweight!!!!! A new mile stone!!!

Juli, that's great, you must be thrilled!!! was this your first? and what is "flouro"? I can't believe how different this time is :nervous I had my fill on monday and still am having to be VERrrrrry carefull! I am pretty much still on mushies and even that will make my throat clamp up tight. I have mixed emotions about it cuz I'm sure the wt. will start to drop now, but it's crazy how carefull I have to be or I'm in trouble. I got another apt. for september, but at this point can't imagine another fill. Anyway, hope everyone is haveing a great weekend.

Flouro is an X-ray type thing. It's different some way, though I can't tell you how. But they needed to see the port because I had lost so much wieght it had moved far from the scar. Also it was pointing down. It was still attached where he put it, by my anatomy has changed pretty dramatically. I'll need them done under flouro from now on, which is fine with me.

Today I'm trying real food, like an egg over easy and toast and it's not going so well. But I'm sure it will get better with time.

I'd wait and see about the September appointment. It's hard to judge this far away.

Hey all hope all is well! Wanted to say HEY!

Thanks Juli, real food still isn't doing so well for me either, but I'm definately diggin the wt. loss, finally stated down again:whoo:, so I guess I'm not complaining!! The september apt. is the Drs. schedule, not mine, suppose to see the nut. and get a fill if I need it. BUT, coming from the Vineyard and all the expense of the boat, etc., if I don't think I need a fill I'm certainly not going that far just to see the nut.! we'll see.....

Hi all! Just checking in post-weekend. Hope everyone had a good one. We went out with our Rainbow RV group. I got a nasty sunburn cause I WENT WITHOUT A SHIRT! Yes, I did wear sunscreen. I just didn't reapply like I should have. But I WENT WITHOUT A SHIRT!! And wasn't overly self-conscious. That's a big thing for me. Everyone was very supportive of my weight loss so that helped. We were at the beach this trip and we had a sand sculpture contest. Guess whose team won?? :guess

Jo & Juli, I know the feeling of not being able to eat real food easily. Since my last fill it's been tough for me too. In fact, I had a fill scheduled for tomorrow and called rescheduled for three weeks later.

Hiya Peach! Nice to have you aboard!

Stevee, what's the latest? We want an update!

Eddie,

Congrats on the sand castle and non shirt wearing day.

I'm going to a les fest in a few weeks and don't see me losing my shirt.

Not now, not ever.

But then again, you fellas are lucky in the shirtless department. I'll be happy to sight see at the fest. hehehe.

Eddie,

Congrats on the sand castle and non shirt wearing day.

I'm going to a les fest in a few weeks and don't see me losing my shirt.

Not now, not ever.

But then again, you fellas are lucky in the shirtless department. I'll be happy to sight see at the fest. hehehe.

HAHAHAHA!! Eww.

update update.. hmmm... well thank you to all of you that sent me money. its adding up. I'm up to $250 from the people on here and then between me and my girlfriend and some of my hair clients the grand total is .... drum roll please.... $330!!!! again thank you so much... i couldn't have gotten this far with out ya'll. it means the world to me it really does

update on where i'm at as far as the other stuff... my psych eval was 8/7... then he was going to send the info to the dr and they would submit it to insurance for the approval letter. so i'm thinkin all is well. i call the dr today and ummmmmmmm the jerk hasn't submitted the report yet! its been 13 days!!!! i didnt like him the day of the appt and i for sure don't like him now! what could possibly be taking this long to write a report. grrrrrrrrrrrr i'm calling tomorrow first thing.

Starting Monday I go on my two week liquid diet. I keep telling myself it won't be hard and try not to think about it.

Hey Edd,

Just wondered how your first day of liquids only went. I hope it was easy for you! You sound alot like me with the nervousness and all so I will be wondering how you do. Hang in there! Trisha

:clap2:

Hey everyone!

Eddie, glad to hear you went shirtless! Juli, sorry to hear you won't be joining him And Stevee, congrats on raising that much cash! Hope you guys on the liquids are doing okay. It will go faster than you think!

Things here are okay. Heading to Key West tomorrow for a few days to get out of Miami. I definitely need a vacation!

I've been having some weird feelings of tighness in my stomach -- I had my first fill about a month ago and I have PMS so I think that's increasing my restriction -- I can barely eat anything at all. But it's been going on since Friday (5 days) so I'm waiting to see if it decreases over the next few days. If this is what it feels like to be overfilled, I don't want it! I had actually planned on getting another fill in 2 weeks, but now I don't know if that would be such a good idea...ugh...meawhile, I'm barely losing at all...it sucks.

I just wanted to let everyone know that I have been approved by United Health Care for surgery. Now we are waiting on my wife's approval. It took less than a month to get approval. Now just have to giure out a date. Thanks to everyone on this and all threads for the help, advice, and support. Will keep you updated as to when I will be doing it.

Chris

Pre Band

St. Louis