mona-camille

Yeah, not sure what she was thinking, but the veggies first is wrong. It is definitely protein. I would think the repeating would cause errors too.

Hi there!! Don't worry, you will eventually be ok, I promise!!!! You have to have a fill before you can have restriction. And unfortunately, it might take 2 fills before you feel it. That seems to be the norm. I just got my second fill and I most definitely have restriction! I am sure that I will start losing now because my bottomless pit has finally been filled - and with just a small amount of food too!! So, try not to get discouraged, I know it is very hard not to, but it will just take a little more time.

HAHAHA Good one!

Funny, but I noticed I am the other way around. I have a much harder time at night, which is great for me!! I am glad it is that way and hope it stays that way. I have 5.8 in a VG band.

Hahaha saying that you made friends with the blender reminds me of the final days for me in that dreaded 21 day period......my hubby had the nerve to get PIZZA and then EAT IT IN FRONT OF ME! Can you believe his insensitivity? Just kidding, but seriously, I jammed a slice in the blender and added lots of water and VOILA a pizza shake that went right up the straw! Was that ever good!

Damn Kim, you are so pretty in that new picture of yourself!

I am so sorry Jim. What a terrible thing to go through. Makes it worse to wait on the military too. When my sister in law passed, it took the military almost a week to send her son home from Kuwait for the funeral. In fact, he is just going back tomorrow. I wish there was some way to help ease your pain, but I know that there isn't. Just know that there are a lot of us here thinking of you and your family. I will light a candle in your sons memory on thursday and you will be in my thoughts and prayers.

I love them too and have them every now and again. In fact, I had started using them again after my failed fill to keep from gaining weight. But, happily, with this new fill, doesn't look like I am going to need them! But, I can say I will keep them around because I DO like them and they are good for a quick protein burst.

That is great!!!!! Good for you! Gives me hope to get back to my 8's. Congratulations for that new milestone!

I just got back from my 3rd trip there. Took my blonde blue eyed 22 year old neice with me. We were fine, and have been for all 3 trips. Just, don't go out at night and don't get drunk. Make sure to Leave Revolution Avenue no later than 5 ish. Thats when the drunks come out and trouble begins. But it is safe during the day. I have walked all over the place there. From the OCC to the hotel to the mall to the cultural center and back. No problems at all. At the mall, several of the movies are in English so you can go and see them easily. I did get some good pointers about eating out on Revolution Avenue. There are only 3 places that are safe to eat. Sanboune's, and the cafe right next door to them, and the diner that is downstairs by the tourist information booth. All other places should be avoided. They have no real kitchens and are looking for money only. Don't buy any gold whatsover, it is ALL immitation. Most of the silver is garbage too. They have learned how to copy the proof marks on the silver so you cannot trust any of it. Most of the water in Tijuana is now safe to drink but if you are still nervous about it, all the places have bottled water. And for those of you who have been there in the past, the Lucerna has installed new shower heads, THEY ARE GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!! Relax, and have a great time. It will be fun!!

Don't fret too much over fluids Trina. I was told drinkable yogurt and popsicles along with sugar/fat free fudgsicles were ok by day 4. That came from Dr. Miranda. But, since lots of us seem to have differing answers from Dr. Miranda, you night want to give her a call just to verify. I would think from what you described above, you should probably be having more to drink. It didn't sound like much to me. And, they most definitely want you to have gatorade ( I was told 3 small bottles a day minimum) plus some watered down apple juice. Those were the 2 biggies to keep up hydration, sugar and electrolyte levels. Hope you are feeling better soon!!! Ramona

Yes, good luck and please let us know how you are.

Wish I would have seen this sooner! Sorry!!!

$580???? I just paid $330 out of Philly from last thursday to sunday. Try Travelocity next time. Early tuesday mornings are usually the best times. And check every day for a week and you WILL find cheaper. But, good luck and I hope you get a great fill!!

I used to love to garden. I had such a huge one and grew everything! But, I got tired of it and don't so it anymore. Wish I still had the gumption because sometimes I miss doing it. It was very relaxing. I only have one single tomato plant in a huge pot, but that is all.

Yes, you are most definitely right about that! But, she is kind of way beyond the norm. Had some brain damage from the fall that made it worse. If you meet her, you'd notice right away. Kind of hard sometimes to be in public with her, but I want her to get to see things that she wouldn't normally get to see. Her mom (my sister) is very poor so she doesn't get to go many places so I try to take her with me wherever I can. I actually took her to Louisiana with me after Katrina hit. I volunteer for an animal in disaster rescue group (Noah's Wish) and we travel to different disasters to rescue animals. She went through the rigid 3 day training with me and did quite well down there. If you put her on a task and then leave her alone, she is great at it. No matter what the task is. So, they let her be in charge of taking care of the cats and she was fantastic. She did so well that it freed up other volunteers to do other things. She kept up after some 200 cats feeding them, changing litter, cooling them down with ice, etc all by herself. But on the other hand, she can't tell time or work with money. She knows what 2 o'clock is but not 2:40. And she knows what a $20 bill is, but doesn't know that 2 $10's or 4 $5's equal that. But, she does get on ok. It is just tiring because she never stops talking. But, I love her.

Jim, I am so very very sorry for your loss. I know that no words can help you right now, but maybe just knowing how much love and support you have here right now, will somehow try to soothe you in time to come. This is such a horrible tragedy and I am terribly sorry you are having to go though it. And please know, there are lots of people who have gone before him that are up there right now, showing him the ropes to his new 'life'. He is not alone, and he is being well taken care of. I wish we could help you in the same way. (((((((((((((((HUGS))))))))))))))))))) Ramona

Yeah, I have actually looked into them, but I have 9 cats so I think I would need a few of them and they are expensive. Plus, I am afraid my cat will pee on them. See, I have some high steppers and they pee over the side, so now I use rubbermaid bins with a door cut in the side. I am ANAL about cat smell. People assume that my house stinks to high heaven when they hear I have 9 cats, but I am a fastidious cleaner and am paranopid about smell. People are amazed when they don't smell my cats, and I like to keep it that way. So, knowing all that, do you still think I could try a littermaid? I'm not being smart or sarcatsic I am asking for an honest opinion since I have been soooo on the fence about trying one. You think in my situation it would work? Thanks!!

Got 2 more cc's in my VG band. Had 3.8 to start. I think this one is a good one. I got it friday at the OCC and have eaten very little since, YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hope it stays that way. Got to meet lots of great people again, (see my answer to Trina's post) and was glad to be able to go back to Mexico. Took my neice with me this time and GOD LOVE HER, was so glad when it was time to go home!! See, she fell out a window 3 stories high when she was 2 and it affected her brain. So, she talks non-stop, knows everything and has some very loud opinions about everything. Just a little tough to deal with and can be a little embarrassing in public. So, now I am home and it is nice and quiet. Let Trina watch my fill while I was there. She was just about to go into the OR for her surgery but they let her come watch. Not sure how much she got to see with my big belly blocking the view. But, it didn't hurt. Just feels a little weird up in the band area when they inject the saline. And, THANKS for speaking up about the flow Trina!! He gave me a bit more after you said that so thanks so much!! I'll have to take you with me next time!! Something Dr. So did say was that it would take a month to feel the full effect and not to even think about another fill until after a month passes. I've heard of it taking a few days, but not a month, but ok. It is definitely working now, so thats cool. Also, thanks for the Chat last night, it was fun. But, I sort of expected to come on today and see my new flirt-friend on line. After all, I told you my sob story about my poop-head hubby who couldn't wait to dump me off at home after picking me up at the airport and then taking off with his friends! GRRRRR Thats ok. He had no clean clothes for work today, teehee.

I am so glad to see you post. I was really worried about you! I am so sorry you are having all those troubles. I wish I was around to help you more. I don't mean to be a pain here, but those bags really were way too heavy for you to be carrying around all day. That might have given you the pulling pain around the port you are experiencing now. I am sure all is fine inside there, but if it doesn't feel a lot better soon, give the OCC a call. Let them know about the heavy bags you were carrying, ok? JUst to be sure. Maybe try some nuprin or alleve for the pain too. I love Alleve, nothing workes better for me. I am so glad I got to meet you, and the others. We rode back to the airport with Zach and his mom and he seems to be doing just great. Very smart kid there, thats for sure. Did all his own research and took his time with it and figured out how to get his mom on board to go along with it. Great mom there too!! Zach's mom - I forget your name (I'm sorry) thanks so much for being so 'gracious' with my neice CLaudia. She is quite the handful and very hard to take sometimes. See, when she was 2, she fell out of a window 3 stories high and it damaged her brain. So, she is kind of slow. Not really slow, but I refer her to be like Jerry Springer material. I feel bad saying that, but unfortunately, it is true. But, thank you very much for putting up with her with such grace. You too, Trina for that matter. You only had to suffer a few minutes though, LOL!! And momoftwins, you doing ok? You seemed to be very good and healing up very nicely! I can't remember the other names - I am so rotten about that, sorry!! Just hope you are all doing ok and healing fast. So great to meet you all!!!

Got my second fill. 2 more cc's for a toal of 5.8. Yes, I have the larger VG band. I got to see Trina here too. I let her come and watch. By the way, she has the prettiest face!!!!!!!! Very very nice gal. Hopefully, if they let me back in the OCC tonight, I will go back and check up on her. Anyway, after my fill, I ate 3/4 of a hamburger patty and a handful of peanuts. No problem, but I felt full so I stopped. Dr. So, WHO IS REALLY CUTE, said it would take a month for my fill to settle and to know for sure whether I have good restriction or not. But, being the eternal pessimist, I kinda doubt it. Oh, by the way, it pays to ask questions.............we found out that the movie house down the street, the Cinepolis, does indeed play movies in English. Not all of them, but most. Wish I would have known that the first time I was down and looking for something to do, LOL. Didn't even consider asking the question so I was forced to spend some time with the ole hubby. Whoever asked how pedometers work..............you get this small thing you clip on your waistband. With each step you take, it actually counts it out. At the end of the day, you take the number it has recorded and cut it in half, and you have the amount of miles you walked. Uh, sort of. Say I have 10,000 steps recorded, that equals 5 miles. 12,000 steps equals 6 miles. See? According to the experts, 10,000 should be the daily minimum each person should walk. NMow, remember, that includes all walking, like getting up to go the bathroom or getting up to clean the litter boxes, you know, ALL steps. Speaking of litter boxes, the ole hubby didn't come with me this time (my neice Claudia came) so he is home right now doing the litter box duties! HAHAHAHAHA I finally get a break! I have lots of boxes that cleaned each day so it is work! THAT I DON'T HAVE TO DO FOR 4 DAYS, YIPEEEEE Can you say, HAPPY? Ok, got to go and catch that movie. Wish me good restriction and a quick and painfree recovery for our banded friends today!

Couldn't handle the drama of the board, plus my dear sister in law died that same day all the crap went on, and I needed to disappear for a while. Had an awful lot of things to do for the funeral. Her husband couldn't handle it, so we had to. Plus, her son had just left for Kuwait that morning and didn't get back to the states for a week. So I had my own drama at home and certainly didn't need to deal with it here. We have begun another walking contest at work and since I won it last time (a few years back) I feel compelled to try and win again. We have pedometers to keep track of our steps. Yesterday was my best day so far and I walked 9 miles throughout the day. You'd think I would lose a lot of weight doing this, but even last time, I didn't. It goes on for 2 months and usually by the middle, I am up to 15 miles per day. Of course, I weigh about 40 pounds more this time than last, so I hope I can still win. Not to be negative or anything, but I kind of doubt it. Last time, I was in the lead each week the whole 2 months, but this time, I am 17th. There are 250 people walking and we are in teams of 4. So 17th isn't sooo bad, but I LIKE TO WIN!!! My legs and ankles don't seem to be cooperating too much though. I am about an hour away from leaving for the airport to go back to the OCC for my second fill. Sure hope it works better this time around. Wish me luck!!! See ya soon TRINA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OH MY GOD!!! WILL YOU LEAVE ME ALONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yes, now I am yelling!!!!!!!!!!!

I think the most important thing for us all to remember is that we are all individuals with individual opinions and personalities. Our minds are all different and what works for one will not work for another. Some people need encouragement some people need a kick in the pants. Everyone absorbs critisism and advice differently. You cannot force your opinion on someone and expect them to have the same opinion as everyone else. (Of course, being the person that I am, I try to do that anyway). That is what makes us all individuals. And we all need to learn a little tolerance for each other and remember that we are all individuals. That being said, I really don't think anyone appreciates being yelled at. (Now thats a tough cookie for me to swallow because I love to yell). I am sure we all appreciate advice and encouragement, but yelling is unacceptable - even from me! To answer the question of what happened on this forum, is simple. People expect everyone to have the same mindset, the same opinion, the same ideals, the same struggles. But, in reality, no-one is the same. We are all like individual snowflakes and that is what needs to be remembered by all. In my opinion (which may or may not be the expressed opinion of anyone else on here) is that if you don't like a certain post, then don't read it. If you don't have anything constructive to say without yelling or bellittling someone, pon't post it. Simple, no?

I think the truth is always best.