NEW BANDER NOW HOME AND HAPPY!

HI EVERYONE! WELL, I HAD MY LAP-BAND SURGERY AT ST. FRANCIS ON FRI, JAN 20TH AND IT WENT AMAZINGLY WELL! I HAD ALOT OF FRIENDS PRAYING FOR ME TO HAVE A SUCCESSFUL AND PROBLEM-FREE SURGERY, AND I MUST SAY THAT THOSE PRAYERS WERE ANSWERED MIGHTILY! I WAS AWAKE AND WAVING TO MY NURSE COWORKERS WHEN I WAS WHEELED INTO ICU AFTER BEING IN PACU. (I WORK AT ST. FRANCIS ) THEY WERE SURPRISED TO SEE ME SO WIDE AWAKE! I HAD NO NAUSEA WHATSOEVER MY ENTIRE HOSPITAL STAY, AND ALSO NONE SINCE I'VE BEEN HOME. I WALKED THE HALLS AT THE HOSPITAL EVERY 1 1/2 HRS AND THAT REALLY HELPED GET RID OF THE GAS. I HAVE BEEN HOME NOW 4 DAYS. I AM DRINKING MY PROTEIN SHAKES (UNJURY) AND ADD THE UNFLAVORED UNJURY TO MY SOUPS AND V8 JUICE, SO FAR IT HASN'T BEEN TOO HARD TO GET 65 GRAMS OF PROTEIN IN . IT'S HARDER FOR ME TO GET 64 OZ OF FLUID IN THOUGH. I'M NOT USED TO DRINKING ALL DAY LONG. I USUALLY GET MY LAST OUNCES IN TO MAKE 64 AT 10:;PM AT NIGHT! I AM AMAZED HOW WELL I FEEL. MY INCISIONS ARE JUST ALITLLE SORE BUT NOT ENOUGH TO NEED PAIN MEDS. I PICKED UP A HEAVY LAUNDRY BASKET AND FELT A TWINGE IN MY PORT INCISION, AND THEN REMEMBERED NOT TO LIFT ANYTHING HEAVY FOR AWHILE! I FORGOT! I WALK EVERYDAY TWICE A DAY AROUND MY NEIGHBORHOOD. I TOOK OFF 2 WEEKS OF WORK AND AM ENJOYING EVERY MINUTE OF IT! SO FAR I HAVE LOST 19 IBS SINCE THE WEEK BEFORE MY SURGERY. SINCE I'VE BEEN HOME FROM THE HOSPITAL I HAVE LOST 9 LBS!!!!! I AM SO EXCITED! I THINK THE WALKING IS HELPING WITH THE WEIGHT LOSS! I AM SO HAPPY AND EXCITED TO BE FEELING SO WELL, AND I AM SO GLAD I DECIDED TO GET BANDED. MY LIFE IS ALREADY CHANGING FOR THE GOOD!!!!MY 50TH BIRTHDAY IS COMING NEXT FRIDAY. MY HUSBAND IS TAKING ME TO A BROADWAY PLAY(THE PRODUCERS) AND OUT TO DINNER AND WE ARE SPENDING THE NIGHT AT A HOTEL. WHICH RESTARAUNTS DO YOU THINK AROUND THE THEATRE DISTRICT WOULD HAVE THE BEST CREAM SOUP MENUS AND WOULD HAVE V8 JUICE AND OTHER LIQUIDS I CAN HAVE? IF ANYONE KNOWS A GOOD ONE, PLEASE LET ME KNOW! TAKE CARE EVERYONE!!!! LOVE-KIM

Congratulations Kim, It sounds as if you are doing very well. Keep up the good work and keep walking and sipping and you'll do great. There are alot of deli places in the city that have some great soups. Also just look at the menu's outside of the restraunts to see what they have to offer. One thing about the city is that you don't have to look far to find a really great restraunt. Just pick your ethnic desire and there will be a great restraunt to satisfy it. My favorite is Thai and there is a great one at 48th and 8th Ave. Pongsri is the name. It's so good that they know me when I come in, which is every time I get to the city. Take some crystal lite with you along with some packages of unjury just to help you keep sipping. Also the hot chocolate at the Dr.'s office is great for traveling. Any Starbucks will give you a cup of Ho****er free. Have a great day, God bless, Pastor Faye

HI PASTOR FAYE! THANK YOU FOR YOUR RESPONSE! I WILL DEFINITELY TRY PONGSRI WHILE WE ARE THERE. I WAS GLAD TO KNOW STARBUCKS GIVES OUT A CUP OF HO****ER!! I WILL BRING MY HOT CHOCOLATE AND UNJURY FOR SURE!! HOW DO I KNOW WHETHER DR. IRGAU WILL TIGHTEN MY BAND OR LEAVE IT THE WAY IT IS? DOES EVERYONE GET TIGHTENED OR JUST IF THEY FEEL LIKE THEY CAN EAT TOO MUCH? I ONCE WENT TO CHURCH WHERE THERE WAS A PASTOR GARY AND A PASTOR FAYE WHETSTONE. IS THAT YOU? IF IT IS .. THAT'S GREAT! I SAW YOUR TV PROGRAM WITH SID ROTH THAT WAS GREAT! I NOW AM AT PRAISE ASSEMBLY IN NEWARK. ONE OF MY FEARS IS THAT IN SEPTEMBER MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE TO MOVE TO CHINA. HIS COMPANY IS BUILDING A PLANT THERE AND HE IS IN CHARGE OF IT. I WORK IN A HOSPITAL HERE AS A RESPIRATORY THERAPIST BUT CAN'T DO THAT IN CHINA BECAUSE OF LANGUANGE AND PLUS I DON'T WANT TO (BIRD FLU). I AM TAKING A CLASS TO LEARN HOW TO TEACH ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE I WILL GET A CERTIFICATE WHEN I COKPLETE THE COURSE. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF JOB OPENEINGS FOR FOREIGNERS WILL CAN TEACH ENGLISH . THEY WILL HIRE YOU EVEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE A CERTIFICATE BUT SPEAK ENGLISH FLUENTLY. I AM HOOKING UP WITHA ACHRISTIAN ESL GROUP TO LEARN HOW TO TEACH ENGLISH BY USING THE BIBLE AS A REFERENCE FOR WORDS AND STARTING DISCUSIIONS ON SPIRITUAL THINGS. I WILL SHOW THEM JESUS. A CHINESE CHURCH IN HOCKESSIN IS HELPING ME LEARN THE ROPES SO I DON'T GO TO JAIL. GOD IS WITH ME AND I KNOW THERE IS A DIVINE REASON FOR THIS MOVE TO CHINA. WE WILL BE THERE 2 YRS. I DON'T KNOW WHAT KIND OF FOOD I WILL BE FORCED TO BUY. WE WILL BE IN SUZHOU, 45 MIN FROM SHANGHAI.WE WILL LIVE IN AN EXPATRIATE HOUSING ZONE AND THERE IS SUPPOSE TO BE TWO INTERNATIONAL SUPERMARKETS THERE. I KNOW THAT SOME OF THE CHINESE SOUPS WILL BE OK. WE WENT FOR 10 DAYS TO TOUR THE AREA AND THE SOUPS WERE GREAT! I DON'T THINK I WILL BE ABLE TO EAT THE RICE THOUGH...OH WELL, IT WILL BE AN ADVENTURE. I TALKED MY HUSBAND'S COMPANY INTO ALLOWING ME TO BE IMMEDIATELY AIR LIFTED BACK TO THE STATES IF I HAVE ANY COMPLICATIONS WITH MY BAND TO SEE DR. IRGAU. FOR ALL OTHER MEDICAL PROBLEMS WE WILL BE AIRLIFTED TO HONG KONG TO THE BRITISH HOSPITALS THERE. WELL, AGAIN, THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR ADVICE IN NEW YORK, I KNOW I WILL HAVE A WONDERFUL 50TH BIRTHDAY THERE!!! TAKE CARE AND HOPE ALL IS WELL WITH YOU!!!!!!!! GOD BLESS!!!!!KIM LEAMY

Kim, Congratulations. You are doing so well with your protein and everything. Keep it up! As far as adjustments, I am out almost 3 years and my adjustments have been at my request and so have some of my unfills. Wynn, Irgau and Peters have each done a fill or unfill on me. Basically, if you feel you can eat too much or you stop losing 1-2 lbs per week for several weeks then you should consider a fill. It's been my experience that the docs have slight differences of opinion on how much fill to put in. I have been without any fill since Nov 30 (I had them remove all of it because I had a tummy tuck, etc.). I am having a refill tomorrow and I'm going to tell Dr. Wynn I don't want it as tight as it was before because I was getting sick too often and, as a result, leaning too much toward soft foods (higher calories). They have always respected my wishes. Sometimes as little as 1/4 cc can make all the difference in the world. You will figure it out as you go along. You might want to check out Yahoo Groups......particularly Smartbandsters, Struggling Bandsters, and Graduate Bandsters.....lots of info from banded people all around the country. Continued success to you! Also, Thurs Feb 2 and every first Thurs of the month at 7:30 p.m. we have a lap band support group at Concordia Church on Silverside Road. Karen Ventresca

Congratulations, it seems like you are doing well. Christie

Kim, Congrads on your journey to a healthier you. Do you also work at the Pulmonologist office doing PFT? Take care.....

HI SHARON! YES, I DO WORK AT DR. ISMAIL'S OFFICE ON WEDNESDAYS DOING PFT'S. DID I DO YOUR PFT? SO FAR, I AM DOING FINE WITH LIQUIDS. I HAVE NO IDEA HOW IT WILL GO WITH MUSHY AND SOLIDS THOUGH. HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN OUT OF SURGERY?GOTTA GO, PHONE IS RINGING!!!BYE! KIM