Hi everyone--I thought I'd listen to some advice from one of the other monthly groups and start one master thread in which we have an ongoing discussion/updates. I don't know about you all but I certainly spend most of my time on these boards on the pre-op forum and the general forum, not here. It would be nice to have just one thread to go to once in this forum.

We can maybe start out with introductions?

As for me, I'm going the "online privacy" route for now (paranoid that people I haven't told about this will somehow stumble across me on this site I guess, which is crazy, I know) but I can give you the big picture:

You can call me Penny, I'm 27, single and live in the Washington, DC area. I have a background in politics (which is why I live in DC) but now I'm a librarian which is much cooler and way more fun (trust me on that). Oh, and there's no "Marion the Librarian" thing with me either. One of the things I hear most frequently (besides the cliche "you have such a pretty face") is "but you don't LOOK like a librarian", which is another one of those bizarre backhanded compliments that you never really know how to take.

Personality wise, I'm kind of dorky, big into public radio and books and popular science. Oh, I'm also a little on the paranoid side (as you may be able to tell from earlier in this post). Beyond that I'm just kind of silly and friendly, VERY much so into traveling and I'm an aspiring "green" domestic diva (but that's not going so well).

hummm that is strange. I have had a pain in my lower left side that is dull until I start exercising or doing housework etc and then a few days ago I had started having pains right under my left rib, have no idea what it is, but I did tell my doctor aobut the lower left pain and I will be having a CT sometime after my surgery this friday, so I have no idea, but it seems weird to that someone else is having pains there too...

hummm that is strange. I have had a pain in my lower left side that is dull until I start exercising or doing housework etc and then a few days ago I had started having pains right under my left rib, have no idea what it is, but I did tell my doctor aobut the lower left pain and I will be having a CT sometime after my surgery this friday, so I have no idea, but it seems weird to that someone else is having pains there too...

Yeah that is weird.... I was looking on internet and it said maybe pancreatitis. I don't know I guess I will wait and see. Short of going to the hospital... I don't know

I hope everything goes well with your surgery. It must have been a tough road but you sound like you have handled it well.

...sounds like you may have an answer before me, so I will look for your post, k? Hope it isnt a bad answer, just an answer that can be dealt with easily! (((hugs)))

...sounds like you may have an answer before me, so I will look for your post, k? Hope it isnt a bad answer, just an answer that can be dealt with easily! (((hugs)))

Me too. I just want to have an answer so I can handle what needs handling and be done and move on. Thanks for chatting with me. I will post as soon as I found something out.

Me too. I just want to have an answer so I can handle what needs handling and be done and move on. Thanks for chatting with me. I will post as soon as I found something out.

NO problem! Will look for your post! (((hugs))) :crying:

NO problem! Will look for your post! (((hugs))) :smile:

Okay everyone,

I just came home from seeing my surgeon. He wanted to empty my band first but after talking to me and pushing around he just thinks I pulled a stitch in my port. But I asked him to do some blood work so he is doing a complete blood count, liver enzymes as well as checking the pancreas enzymes. I am glad because then that can rule out other stuff and then I will believe it is what he thinks it is.

...hummm, how do you pull a stitch in the port? I am glad he listened to you and is doing some research before just emptying you. :smile:

1day At a Time - I'm so glad you're being proactive about your health and not just meekly accepting the doc's rushed answers. I hope it turns out to be nothing serious.

Just checking in...........not doing good........been eating too many 100 calorie snacks. So, I gained another lb, but I am not going to change my ticker. So how is everyone else?

Well, I have finally taken off 1 of the 2 lbs I had gained since the beginning of April. Standardized testing and Easter killed me!!!! Sugar is the DEVIL!!!! Now if I would only get off my BIG LAZY BUTT and exercise, maybe I would start really losing again. UGH!

...hummm, how do you pull a stitch in the port? I am glad he listened to you and is doing some research before just emptying you. :rolleyes2:

That is what I said. apparently when I was working out I must had pulled something when I was doing these hanging ab things my trainer friends likes to make me do.

1day At a Time - I'm so glad you're being proactive about your health and not just meekly accepting the doc's rushed answers. I hope it turns out to be nothing serious.

Oh I never take no for an answer especially if I think they are just trying to blow me off.

When you pull a muscle or anything in your abdomen it is painful...........take care!

When you pull a muscle or anything in your abdomen it is painful...........take care!

Thanks so much. I am hanging in there and trying not to cough or laugh because that hurts like heck.

Okay all,

The doctor's office called me today and said my labs are fine. My white blood cell count is up a little but they believe it is because of the pulled muscle or stitch which ever one I did. They said to check back if I am not a lot better on Monday.

I hope I am because I want to work out with my trainer next Tuesday. In the meantime I am walking a little bit not as much as I need to because it hurts when I do to much. I want to push through it so I do not become to lazy.

Thanks for all the well wishes everyone.

I'm glad to hear it isn't one of those other things.

I go in for a fill today. As you amy recall, I asked Dr. Tran to take some fluid out after my appendix surgery, to help me swallow those big antibiotic tablets. Once the swelling went down, I've been wide open and eating like a maniac. Partly because for a while there I was so nauseous that all I could stand to eat were things like Stouffer's mac & cheese, grilled cheese sandwiches, and pudding.

(The antibiotics tightened my throat and made everything with flavor taste really strange. Even SF cherry Koolaid was too acidic for me to handle!)

So, I don't know if he can or will try to put it all back in today or not. We shall see.

I did what I needed to do, and I am determined to get back on track regardless. I have put on about ten pounds, but that is counting from a time when I was probably dehydrated and I had barely been able to eat for a week and a half. I was losing a pound or two a day for a week or so! That was the fun part.

So it looks like we are pretty much at the same spot, trying to get bsck on track so we can finish the job. It is so worth doing! Let's get started!