Paula Bee

Today is the first day that I have felt stress from my family, and it is arising because family members, (other than my husband,) are worried about me going alone for the procedure. My crippled brother called and wanted to DRIVE TO JACKSONVILLE (10 hours) so he could go on the plane with me and make sure I was okay. My husband has been with me to OCC two of the three times I have gone, and he knows that I will be well cared for, and the surgical procedure is with one of the best bariatric surgeons in the world. He got so mad over my siblings butting in to our business, and I think it is because, deep down, he wishes he could go. We really are not worried, except for my discomfort on the plane. It is so embarassing to ask for a seatbelt extender and to find myself spilling over into the next seat. Also, I am having pain in my left knee and hip, but they have put me on the aisle where I can stretch that leg. I have a wheelchair arranged to take me from one gate to the other on the layovers. I really think we have done everything we can do to make the flight the least painful it can be. Funny... we are more worried about the flight than the surgery. In the mean time, I haven't told anyone in my family except my oldest son, who will be one of the people who can check on me or make decisions. I have told everyone else that I am going to have my lapband worked on, (which is true.) I am just not up for any lectures on how the band didn't work and what makes me think that this will be more successful..... yada, yada.

OMG... I will be so horrified if they get in there and can't do it because of scar tissue... seriously upset after 4 weeks of slimfast and lean cuisine. Nobody has said anything to me about that... I am flying back and forth from Florida, and at 700 bucks a pop it becomes problematic for me. This just kind of freaks me out. What kind of things did you do when you were at the hotel the 5 days after surgery? I figure TV and my kindle, but I am not bringing my laptop... I am not bringing anything that isn't essential. Thank you.. Lord, I am freaked out now.

I have been doing the two shakes and 1 lean cuisine for a week now, and have 3 weeks to go until my gastric sleeve surgery. I haven't been too hungry before, but for the last two days I have been starving. I noticed some good ideas... I forgot to get the metamucil tablets, but will get those along with sugar free popsicles, jello, and some minestrone. I hope it helps... I mean, I am going to hang in there, but I am hungry. Also, I have just been kind of lazy and gone with SlimFast. Maybe one of the other, higher protein shakes will help. Also, I noticed that my mouth tastes awful... could that be the ketone release from dieting? Does anyone know what I can to to help it other than to brush or gargle multiple times a day?

Thank you all so much for your encouragement and kind words. It means worlds when one is lonely and depressed. I will make it.... I get by with a little help from my friends... all of you. Love and gratitude, Paula

EXACTLY!! My bi-polar is the problem.. meds have kept me stable w/o much change for about 2.5 years, and now, I am fast cycling to the point that I just feel totally out of control most of the time.. angry... anxious.. laughing.. spending.. weeping.. giggling.. wringing my hands.. weeping.. oh yeah, did I say reasonless weeping? The part that has me SO upset about it is that I recognize when these are happening and I just cannot pull in the reins... it is like watching from the outside. Anyway.. I think we are to the starting over phase. Hugs and thank you so much Paula

Hi, Ya'll, I haven't felt well for a while, both mentally and physically, and I just have been too tired to come on, but I think about you all often, especially my special friends. I am in intensive outpatient therapy for my depression 2 full days a week for 8 sessions, and I am hoping this helps me get a grip on my depression. They are also re-evaluating all my medications and side effects. I had gained a little weight..not sure why.. but now am back to my shown weight. Hope to start dropping again soon. My family in Baton Rouge got severely hit by Gustav and will be without power for 3-5 weeks... something else to add to my anxiety issues. I will cope.. got to - there is no alternate choice. Having my wisdom teeth out Monday.. they are all in and two are crowned, one is filled.. the one with the filling actually broke. Continuing with water aerobics on MWF.. really enjoying it and feel less lonely. Hugs to everyone

Awh, Girlfriend... I am so proud of you.. you are an inspiration.

YAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

Hooray for you.. I think the nsv's are the most emotionally satisfying ones.

I know you are upset because he was unhappy.. good mommy.. He will be MORE unhappy if you die earlier because of weight related health issues. With regards to being embarassed? Who gives a flip! You are never going to see any of those people again, so who cares? Hugs!

SOOOOOOO glad to see you back!

I LOVE Paul Newman's peach and pineapple salsas. They are not too hot, but soooooo delicious. If I find I am trying to eat some meat that is too dry, I just put some of this salsa on it. It is perfect, and very very good!

Laffing and doing the happy dance with you.. much more fun when there are two. Gotta love that happy dance! Woot!!

You are special to me, too, and keep me inspired when I am too tired to be inspired by myself. I thank God every day for your support.

Alas... I, too, am an addict to the site. Even when I don't feel well enough to post, I lurk and read everything. This is a MAJOR lifeline for me, and I greatly appreciate the support and information I find here. Thanks, everyone!!

I am really feeling it for those of you in the Pacific NW.... I know the 100 degree temps have got to be killing you... Hugs....

I had better luck with my pills this morning. I broke them all up until they were small as a pencil eraser, and took them with my second cup of coffee. All but the one that cannot be broken went down my "warmed up" throat. After a few sips of coffee, the other one went down. When Kathie Gonzales did my fill on Monday, my blood pressure was low. She told me to go to my gp to talk about getting off at least one of my bp pills. I was VERY excited. That would be one less pill! I am using the EAS whey powder.. I have loved it from the pre-surgery days. I put a full scoop in my morning coffee for breakfast...mmmm... mocha! Maybe the low carbs are an issue with the exhaustion. I may try having beans for lunch to get the protein and the carbs in one swoop. Water aerobics is calling to me. I never want to go, (a depression and exhaustion thing,) but I always have fun after I get there. So, I shall head out. Have a good day, everyone!

Dang, Kim... it would be cheaper for you to fly back and forth than to drive! I wish you were coming while I will be in Baton Rouge visiting my mom around the 10th. My brother's divorce court date is the 12th. Any day after that I could meet up with you.

OMG... this site says that I need even MORE calories per day. It also says that I should be eating hearly 1900 calories per day for extreme weight loss! Dang!

It depends on who your surgeon is. Most of us went to OCC. Dr. Miranda, the dietician there, decides what kind of pre-op diet that she wants each of us on, depending on how much weight we need to lose before surgery. One of the choices is 3 liquid meals a day.

I had my third fill on Monday in St. Petersburg, with Cathy Gonzales, and I FINALLY have restriction. First of all, Cathy was absolutely fantastic. I cannot speak highly enough of this lovely, informative health care provider. I learned twice as much about fills as I already knew. Many of you know that I had a little "muffin top" problem with my pouch over the band, and my fills were kept low until this had healed. Well, it was completely healed and looked perfectly normal. She increased my fill until I had an even 2.0 in a 4.0 band. She tried 1cc more, but I couldn't swallow the water easily enough, so she reduced it 1 cc. After the liquids for two days, and my first food after the fill yesterday, I can tell I am going to have to readjust my chewing and bite size again. I thought I was doing it well until food got stuck at all three meals yesterday, sometime during the meal. Not chewing is killer.. killer. The first night, I had trouble swallowing my pills. I broke most of them up and slurped them down with yogurt, but one whole little pill got stuck. I was in miserable pain for about an hour and a half, and when I finally was able to "burp" around it, I went to bed. It felt like it was stuck all night long, and finally, after morning coffee, the feeling went away. I took my morning pills spread out all over the morning. Last night I ground my pills up, stirred the powder into yogurt, and gagged it down. Tried again this morning, breaking them all, (and there is a lot of them,) into little pieces, once again tucking them into yogurt. I haven't figured out the pill thing.. it is still a problem. Food is finally what I had hoped it would be. I think I am eating about 1/2 cup of food each meal, with protein shakes twice a day. The Fill Center said to drink protein shakes, regardless of what we were told, if we are not getting 60 grams of protein a day. Between everything, plus v8 once or twice a day, plus yogurt or soy milk twice aday, I am plenty full.. in fact, I am full without all that, but I want my health to improve, and malnutrition won't do it. I am very tired lately.. very.. and it is worse on water aerobics days. I am worried that I am sliding into a bi-polar slump... and.. I am rambling.. sorry.. Anyway, the fill was great!

I wonder how many of us are 50+? There are some aging challenges that we begin to face that our younger members don't have. I am 54. challenge - medications that impact weight loss

I am so sorry you have felt invisible! You are definately not alone, though. Frankly, there is nothing in any of the band literature that says you cannot use a weight loss program with the band, as long as you follow the band basics, too. Since you can easily meet these basics with the low carb diet, go for it. Weight Watchers, any of them... whatever keeps you on-track. Basically, Dr. Miranda's plan is low carb. After each fill, I find I can eat less and less, (of course... that is the point...) and I have had trouble getting past the protein portion several times. I basically never get to the carb portion, and usually don't get the fruit, either. That just leaves protein and veggies. You are definitely not alone!

Yay, Kim! That is so great!!

Oh, Michelle... you are so lovely, honey! How inspiring.. you are keeping the pace for all of us. (No pressure, huh!) Now, if I could only find a way to grow my boobs as nice as yours are, I will be good to go.