The Redhead

WOW! Great work Dolittle. You're a mere shadow of your former self!!!! =D> =D> =D> =D> =D>

I just chewed mine up and swallowed them. Gross, but it's easier than crushing them. Anita, the Phazyme might be better for your shoulder pain. My doctor told me that the pain is referral pain from the gas trapped in your diaphragm. The nerve endings are in your shoulder so Tylenol probably won't help that pain because the pain is actually coming from elsewhere. She explained it like having back pain when you have your period or a first sign of pain near your navel when you have appendicitis. Take care, Denise

Hi Anita, I've been thinking about you. Good luck with everything. You'll be done and on your way to 'thin-dom' before you know it. Best wishes, Denise

I was 'banded' on April 10, 2008. Day by day, since then, I have been trying to make better food choices not just for me, but for my kids and boyfriend as well. I'm TRYING to say NO to junk food drive-throughs and TRYING to make better selections at the grocery store. I'm also TRYING to sneak healthier chooses into packed lunches. It's a a REAL struggle since so often I have associated food with love. Ya know what I mean...? ....I love my kids so I'm buying them the treats they ask for. Let me tell you this is HARD. I've set a pattern for all of us and I'm taking FULL RESPONSIBILITY for my family, UP UNTIL NOW! (My kids are 16 and 18 and I can't always stop them from eating crap), but I can stock the fridge with ONLY good stuff and not bring home the high-fat, high-calorie treats. If I can pull this off it will DEFINITELY be a MILESTONE for all of us. I keep telling myself... if I'm getting healthier and improving my chances of a LONG healthy life and living until I'm 95 (or so), my kids better be healthy enough then to take care of me when I am that old.

I haven't had my first fill yet but I have LOTS of experience with food getting stuck. WOW, does that HURT!!!! :negative: You'd think I'd learn to chew more and take smaller bites but I must be a REAL slowwwwww learner. I can't eat: Toast Chicken strips Hamburgers Tuna (thought that would be easy but NO, it got stuck BIG TIME)

I'm in! And I'll help organize if you need more help.

Well... I talked to my boyfriend about whitening and he said he wants to get it done. He still seemed hesitant about it though. I have another problem though... I have a couple of very sensitive teeth right now. I'm gettting my teeth checked and cleaned next week so I'll ask the hygienist about it.

Congratulations and welcome to Bandland. Don't worry about the weight gain. I gained 7 lbs from the time I left until I got home!!! It was all water weight. Keep sipping your water and it will come off.

:lb21: :lb9: :lb21: WELCOME TO BANDLAND!!!

Hi Allcdn... Everybody is different but my gas was mostly up, not down. However, I'm still burping without warning. Every once in a while I'll bend over and a HUGE BurPPPP will sneak out. I don't even know they're coming lots of time. Also, I'm still occasionally having shoulder pain, which is gas trapped in the diaphragm and causing referral pain in the nerve endings in your shoulder. When I first had my surgery the shoulder pain was INTENSE but it's getting much better. It would have been difficult for me to work for the first week after. ...But, another problem... sitting for a 'sit down job' for long periods of a time can be hard on the tummy. Try to remember to get up regularly and take a walk.

I'm going for a fill on May 29th. I was thinking about arranging for my boyfriend and I to have our teeth whitened while we are there. My boyfriend is VERY afraid of dentists. He hasn't been in quite a while (which is crazy since he has 100% dental coverage [but not whitening]). If I tell him he'll worry for days before or back out or just tell me not to do it. If I just book it he might be upset (though he'll get over it). I know he'll love it when he's done. He is a smoker and really could use the whitening. ...so your opinions please... should I go ahead and book for the two of us... or leave well enough alone?

Great poem. My daughter had to do a project with this poem in her Grade 12 English class. I liked it right away when she showed it to me. ...but then the rest of the poems she had to work with were Shakespeare, Kipling, Bronte, etc. ...I needed the Coles notes to understand those ones.

I took out a loan with my bank at prime rate interest. I'm hoping to pay it off by the time I want a tummy tuck and then I'll finance that too.

My boyfriend got his cell bill yesterday. Apparently I called him on his cell just before midnight (he was at the Lucerna) on the night that I had surgery (I used the hospital phone). We talked for 5 minutes (I vaguely remember... those drugs, you know...). Anyway... it cost him $3.50 a minute, plus roaming charges... it was almost a $25 call. Bad me!! I haven't got my bill yet and I called the OCC from the airport a couple times (they forgot me) and also made some calls when I was in Tijuana to the OCC (to make sure they hadn't forgot me for surgery too). I'm dreading the thought of my phone bill. If his was $25 for one call, mine will be more like $125 extra. :lb1: :ireful3: :ireful2:

That is so cool! How did you do that. P.S. You're gorgeous already.

Hi Lora, How was that powdered peanut butter? I know a few of you ordered it and I was thinking about ordering some too but wanted to hear how it tasted before I did. Thanks, Denise

Keep us informed Bebe. I'm thinking of doing the same.

:lb21: :lb21: :lb16: :lb16: :cheerleader: :cheerleader: :lb16: :lb21: :lb21: Good luck future bandsters!!! We'll be here waiting for you on the other side when you're done!!! Have a great trip! ...and just wait until you meet the gorgeous Dr. Ortiz... mmmmmm

I live near Guildford. I can drop them off where you work tomorrow if you want. I was going to suggest you could pick them up but we'll be at the Guildford Station tomorrow for dinner and at an auction on Wednesday.

Hi A, Yes, I do work days but I'm home most days by 3:00. You know pretty much where I live. I work in New West except tomorrow (Tuesday) I'm in Vancouver all day for meetings. You work near where I live, don't you? Denise

Hey A, I have all the paperwork from Dr. Woodhead. If you want you can have my paperwork (I'm going back to the OCC). Maybe just complete the paperwork and send them in. Maybe they'll still accept you. I was told that if you had the paperwork and sent it in they'd still accept you.... It's worth a try. Denise

That's hilarious!!! I am trying to lose an elephants penis!

Hi Carrie, For me it was like a dream. I kept thinking... this really isn't going to happen. I kept that feeling right until they put in my IV (4 times - small veins)... then I thought... ok... maybe it will happen. When I woke up after surgery I thought, 'Did it REALLY happen'. I had to touch my stomach to be sure. About the money... it is A LOT of money to spend. The way I look at it though is, between all the 'lose weight'' schemes I've tried over the years, I'm sure I spent WAY more than $7,900. You know... Weight Watchers, Weight Loss Clinic, Hypnotherapy, Herbal Magic, etc, etc, etc... Good luck with everything... (but you won't need it. It's a piece of cake and the whole day will fly by)., Denise

GREAT!!! I'll look for you. Hmmm... I wonder if they'll let us back in the rooms to say hi? Good luck with everything! Denise

Hi Kimmie, How are you? Good to see you back. Good news about your fill! I'm looking forward to my first one in 3 weeks. You're doing great on your weight loss. Take care, Denise