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Sorry I am late today but life was really busy yesterday.  We had massive storms, didn’t have power at the middle school I am teaching at, and lots of things going on — locked keys in car, got a new phone as mine had stopped working, and basically life was full.

I did go to a bandster dinner and met some interesting people.  Spent quite awhile talking to my neighbor who is very successful with the band.  She didn’t tell me anything different than anything else I’ve heard, but it helped.

I’m still gaining and losing the same three pounds, still having trouble with blood sugar control but it should start getting better as I am back on Diet Gourmet food all three meals starting tomorrow.  Can’t wait.

Still working on the same 3 pounds, but that is to be expected. 

I ate my first Diet Gourmet Meal in months, and man did I miss them.  The nicest part is the calorie and carb count is on the lid of the container.  I have to learn to eat slower but otherwise no problems.  And it was good.

Will be going to a Bandster support dinner tomorrow, and I hope they can help with that.  Also planning on going to a support group meeting next Tuesday to learn about fills.

My head wanted me to go back to my old ways last night, but as long as I pick the right food, I can’t do it.  The bad thing is that the really good, high calorie foods can be eaten without ill effects, and I have to remember to stay away with from them.  Things like ice cream.

So I’m almost three weeks with the band and I am happy with it.  Even though I’m tired today.

YEAH! My weight is back down to it’s lowest.

Yesterday is exactly why I did my surgery when I did.  Absolutely no time to think about eating, much less doing it.

I see shrink today, and I have two issues to work on — dealing with the band and dealing with coworkers.  Especially since I’m campus technologist again next year.  At least now I understand my job.  Last year it took a long time to get a handle on it. 

I’m going to a bandster dinner Thursday night, I really need help in learning how to eat like a bandster (bandster is term for someone who has had lapband surgery). 

And I’m also getting plans together for trip, I have 3 days of travel, 3 days of sightseeing, 2 days of workshop and 3 days of travel.

I’m also proud of myself for turning DOWN a paying gig.  My specialist wanted to know how many hours do I need to fix curriculum and I asked for 20.  At the same time I said that PreAP needed 30 hours and I wanted a more experienced teacher to do it, the new Townview teacher.  Hope she at least appreciates the thought!  And I did it in a way that didn’t close any doors.

Probably more later on today.

Found my missing blog entry, it was on the wrong blog.  Will try to put it on the right date.

Okay, I lied, I was having a slight weight gain when I went to full liquids and mushies — about the same time my blood sugar got wonkie. Now that my blood sugar is back where it belongs I'm losing a slight amount of weight, better yet, my desire to eat has gone away. I have been dealing with food cravings all week and I thought it was due to the several weeks of deprivation — nope, it was out of control blood sugar.

So how do I feel. Pretty good. It's nice not to be hungry all the time. I am trying to get over the diabetic "eat all the food syndrome", and trying to feel okay about throwing out food, but I'm not there yet. There are definetely foods that I have trouble digesting but if I just slow down and wait, its fine.

I'm also not as frustrated. That has affected my mood a lot. Amazing what a few hours of controlled blood sugar does. I still have trouble drinking enough water.

Baby steps.

I am scheduled to attend a workshop from July 14-16.  I can leave Dallas as early July 8, but have to be home on the 20th.  I have been thinking of driving, and stopping at my mother’s in Brandon, Mississippi, on the way and the way back. I am thinking of staying at the Embassy Suites in Alexandria and making that my base the days before the trip.  I am thinking of taking the train to either Philadelphia and or New York.  I also want to see the sights in Washington D.C.

I know I want to see the Smithsonian Museum that has the Faberge Eggs and the Museum that has the Spirt of St. Louis.  I’m open to suggestions for everything else.

Any ideas?

AND the thing I really want to do is to meet some of the East Coast Diabetes Bloggers, is there a place where we can get together on my trip?

Or at least it is on it’s way.

Had to go back to my presurgery basal and boluses to get there <pout>.

I feel pretty much recovered from the surgery, so I am going to change my post title.

My incisions are pretty close to completely healed and the only restrictions remain when it comes to eating and lifting weight.  Still have 2 weeks to go before it is “safe” to lift over 20 pounds.

I’m still on mushies and most of the time doing okay digestion wise.  However, I find myself going back to my old habits which I need to fix proto.

The lab band is not a magic fix, that’s for sure, I’m finding out already.

Had a good workout with my personal trainer, and looking forward to next week, teaching middle school girl’s camp.

Blood sugar is still a mess.

Totally freaked me out — these things all do.  My Ping Meter stopped working yesterday — I got an “Error 2” Problem with Test Strip or Meter.

Well, all my test strips are new — I test about every two hours, so I go through them fairly quickly.  Had a unopened vial with me, and it didn’t work either, so I immediately called Animas.

They are always great and calming but since Lifescan makes the meter had to send me to Lifescan Tech support whose rep was NOT listening.  She did finally get through everything and told me my new meter would be sent UPS and would arrive Tuesday or Wednesday. Wasn’t real happy but what can you do.

I tested with my alternative meter for the next two tests then decided to give my Ping a try and it was working again, of course, I don’t trust it.

Well, I was up early — was thinking of going to a fun match but was having an arthritis day so didn’t go — glad I didn’t because about 9:00 the door bell rang and to my surprise, there was a UPS man at the doorstep with an Animas box.  NOW THAT’S THE CUSTOMER SERVICE I LOVE AND RESPECT!

So the old meter is in the shipping box and the new meter is up and working — of course I’ve lost my log in the meter — though I just downloaded it.

Very happy!

Today I am a training for Summer Enrichment training.  My blood sugar is completely out of control, started at 179 and was just at 229.  I’ve bolused and I have set my basal rate at +50%.   Hopefully that will help and I am trying to not eat until it is back under control.

Yesterday I was a bit better at blood sugar control, but obviously don’t have it together yet. 

I definitely see a difference in how I process food.  I had some pureed pot roast last night and it did get a little stuck and I certainly couldn’t eat my usual amount.

I just learned the secret to mushies – which not knowing caused the problems last night.  Everything has to be the consistency of soup.   I was kind of of told that, but didn’t “get it”.  Unfortunately it’s “eating” around the band, but that is the stage I’m in.

My TDD is going up and my weight is going up slightly but it is to be expected as I am eating more calories.

Did walk on the treadmill for 30 minutes yesterday and the personal trainer is coming today.