fat2nrml

I'm hoping she can.... I can't buy her ticket until Friday so I'm hoping there's still an opening on the flights! Fingers crossed! She's so looking forward to going, I didn't have the heart to tell her that I don't actually have the ticket yet. I was going to go alone, but we haven't had much 'Mommy-daughter time' so I asked if she wanted to go. Is Hubby still going with you??

Thanks ladies,.... Mikayla was hoping to swim, but it sounds llike that's out!!! :lb18: Darlene

I'm going to TJ on the 19th & 20th and was wondering what the weather's like down there??? Anyone who's been there recently, could you please give me a 'weather report'.... LOL! Just needed to get an idea of clothing to bring. Thanks a bunch!! Darlene

Hey Ramona!! I'll be making a 'quicky' trip, I shoulda stayed the 21st too. My flight lands at 10:30 am, my fill appt. is at noon at the OCC. I'll spend the night at the Lucerna and my flight leaves at 11:30am on the 20th. Wonder how the weather is in TJ??? Last time I was there in July it was BEAUTIFUL!!

Congrats Julie!!! AAAAAAAAA++++++++++ on a great job!!!

Try sipping warm to hot liquids. Cold or icy drinks seem to cause me the discomfort in my side and shoulder area. Best wishes, Darlene

Good for you Mona!!! Just take care of yourself!!...... do you take a daily vitamin? Isn't it funny how we can 'trick' our bodies sometimes??!! Take care and keep it up, Darlene

Yes she did Mona, I have to answer her here after bit. Thanks so much for telling her to get in touch with me. The pain comes and goes.... it's hardly noticable right now????

Hello All! I have a question about some back pain I've been experiencing and wondered if anyone else has\had it with their band. I've been having pain between my shoulder blades and it feels, at times, like it's aching right through to my breast bone. I was worried and went to my local Doc [he know's I'm banded] he ordered tests to see if it was my gallbladder and it wasn't. The pain eased for awhile but it's back. When this all started in Oct., I emailed Dr. Ortiz and told him my symptoms and asked his advice, but I never heard back from him. I noticed last week, along with the upper back pain, I'm now experiencing discomfort in my left side back, at the bottom of my rib cage-area. Has anyone had problems with their BM's and noticed any pain like this? I've recently been having less frequent BM's and am wondering if this is all connected????? P.S. I noticed it seems to ache more after I eat.... that's why I thought it was my gallbladder. Thanks for 'listening'! > Darlene

I'm waitng for it to click for me too....... Or maybe I just need my ass kicked?.... :punish:

I just purchased it and am hoping it will help with my diet plan. I've heard nothing but good things about it.... I guess we'll see.....

Mona Dear I'm SO, SO happy for you, truely I am!!! > :lb10: I know how you've struggled and searched for 'The fill'....... and now the benefit of watching your clothes get bigger and bigger!!! Awesome! Keep up the great work and I'm so proud of you that you're not obsessing over the scale! Best wishes, Darlene

Everthing will be fine, I promise you!! The OCC shuttles you everywhere and like the others said, don't go anywhere by yourself. I went to Revolution Ave. with my hubby and 11yr old daughter. Now we kept ahold of her the entire time, she NEVER left our sight. I've been to TJ three times this year and never saw ONE bad thing, not one! I know it's happening but the Hotel yard is fenced in and I felt very safe. I never stepped outside of the Hotel by myself, nor would I ever. Two of the three times I went, I went by myself! Flew down, stayed at the Lucerna and flew back to Pa.!! Please relax and try to enjoy yourself. Darlene

I have had the same experiances with my fills, there's some restriction for about a week and then it's gone. I've had 2 fills and need a third. And I agree..... it is kinda depressing.

I've had 2 fills and only stayed tight for maybe a week after both of them. I'm now at 2.6 cc and need another fill badly. I've never known 'real restriction', only short lived. I can eat pretty much anything, mornings are a little tighter, I can't eat bread in the AM. The only things that seem to get stuck for me are re-heated foods.... must be because of the dryness. Good luck Stormy, I'm in the same boat as you. Darlene

I stuck with the Lucerna's food and bottled water. They have bottled water in your room and when you run out just ask the maid or call the front desk for more. Like someone else said, there's NO WAY I'd buy food from a street vendor, I won't even do that in NYC.... YUCK!! [Did you see the story about them on 20\20??!!!]

The bottled water at the Hotel is free, just ask a maid or call to the front desk and tell them when you need more. I took tea bags with me and used the bottled water in the coffee maker in the room to make it. If you plan on shopping, like Revolution Ave., take smaller bills and bargain with the shop owners, NEVER give them what they ask for! Also, have 1's for tipping. The Hotels tortillia soup is awesome!! I think it's like $5 a bowl, but well worth it! I forget how much the broth is, I imagine only a couple bucks. Alot of people take bullion cubes and make broth in their rooms. I didn't eat the night before surgery, Dr. O says it can cause alot of gas and makes you more uncomfortable after surgery. The pool area is lovely, enjoy and relax. The Lucerna is an awesome hotel and the staff is very helpful. Best wishes, Darlene

Hello Kristy, Alot of people don't beleive that Echinacea works, [i see some fellow bandsters do!] but I truely beleive it DOES! I swear by it!! I try to remember to take it for one week every-other-month. I was told that you don't want to over stimulate your immune system by taking it every day. Anyways, if I feel something coming on or, like right now my daughter's getting a cold, I start popping it! It knocks back whatever's getting starting and I don't get really, really sick. It's not expensive and you can get it at Walmart in the vitamin isle. Hope you feel better!! Darlene

Thanks Mona for the info., Binx and I very much appreciate it!! I wanted to say that Binx is not blocked and was tested for infection and has none. He can pee, I know cause it's all over my house. He's not crying or bleeding [thank god!] The Vet feels that the food will help with the crystals and I'm hopeful. I've been keeping my eye on him and have'nt seen him pee anywhere for the past few days. He's a big ball of love [he's with me on the computer desk and as I'm typing he's pawing at my hand to keep petting him! I LOVE HIM SO!! I did have a stray running around outside and she won't come to anyone, she just runs away. I think the spraying is because Binx is begining to be the 'old man' [8] and Bettis is 2 and I think he's trying to be 'the man' of the house [meaning Bettis.] They don't fight-fight but they eye each other and hiss from time to time. Right after one confrontation they had, Binx went right over to the end of my couch and sprayed it. Thanks again for everything Mona and Denise, I'll keep you posted. :-h Darlene P.S. I have 4 cats and 5 litter boxes in different places in the house.

Absolutely LOVE the kittyz!!! They are both soooooo cute! I would have more, but mine wouldn't tolerate it!! Thanks Mona, it was nice meeting rabies kitty and flat face!

Thanks Denise, I'll ask the Vet about the spray. I used over-the-counter type sprays and they DO NOT get rid of the smell at all. The Vet thinks he's peeing because the crystals hurt and he's associating the pain with the litter box and won't go there. I'm hopeful that the change in food will stop the peeing outside the litter box. The Science Diet is expensive too, especially with 4 cats, but it'll be well worth it if it works. Thanks again, Darlene :superstition:

You look awesome!! Love the color of your outfit...... BEAUTIFUL!!!

Oh Jann, you crack me up!! It's so great that you are going through all these changes and getting comfortable in your new life as you go along! I can't wait for the day that I finally get to that point,..... I took the short bus to school! Keep up the good work and keep on grinning! Darlene

So glad to hear that you and kitty are going to be OK!!! They can be little terds sometimes, eh??!! While I have your attention.... do you have any tips on how to stop my male kitty from spraying? We have 4 total, 3 boys and 1 girl. Binx is the only one doing it. I took him to the vet because he's been peeing on my throw rugs [this is besides the spraying] and they said he has crystals in his urine and I had to change his food to Science Diet. All this has been going on since Spring and I don't know how to get him to stop!! I love all my kittys and I'd never get rid of any of them, but I already ripped up 2 rooms of carpet..... any advice would be greatly appreciated!! Also, any tips on how to get out the pee smell? Thanks ahead of time Mona, Darlene