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Well, I have to say, the post op doctor's visit was ...... well, it was different. Since I had my surgery in Mexico, and paid for it myself, there have been NO post op visits with the surgeon. His office did call me once, and I talked with his staff person about my exercising, but haven't seen a doctor since the week after my surgery. (I was running a fever for a few days starting on day 4 after my surgery. So went to see my PCP at home, and get on an antibiotic. He couldn't find the source of the infection, but after $500 worth of lab and x-ray put me on an antibiotic, and the problem was resolved. Then I flew back to California to go back to work, and haven't see any physician since.) My PCP told me when I saw him at four days post op that I should have a cholesterol level done in 2-3 months, to determine if I needed to go back on my anti-cholesterol medication. So I finally found a physician I felt comfortable with and made an appointment. (BTW, WHO KNEW IT WOULD TAKE ME 2 MONTHS TO GET IN TO SEE A DOCTOR FOR A NON EMERGENCY APPOINTMENT?) But this past Tuesday morning I hauled my rear end out of bed at 6:00 AM (I am NOT a morning person!!!), showered, did the hair and makeup thing and took my fasting body to the doctor. I came prepared with a list of my current medications (all two of them!), a copy of my op report for her to put in my chart, a copy of my weight loss chart to show that I have been losing, a list of questions, etc. And guess what I forgot? MY INSURANCE CARD!!! How stupid can I be, I mean, REALLY! Since they wouldn't see me without it, or without my offering to pay for the entire appointment IN CASH, I turned around and drove the 15 miles back to my apartment and rumaged around and found the card. Drive back to the doctor's office, and wait. Finally got past the waiting room, got weighed (OH HAPPY DAY! 170 lbs!) and in to see the doctor. After all the BP and Temperature, pulse, talk about the surgery, etc, she asked me "now what is your plan when you reach your goal, especially if you can't stop losing weght?" Wow! Talk about a profound question!!! I hadn't even thought about that scenario! I mean, I have always, Always, ALWAYS been the fat girl, never the one who was TOO skinny! What do I do if I am at goal and still loosing? I didn't have an answer for her, and thought about it all day after the appointment. I finally came up with the answer. I will switch from Venti SKINNY Iced Carmel Machiatos at Starbucks to Regulars! I know, it's not that funny, but hey, like I said, that has NEVER been the problem before! I simply can't wrap my mind around the problem of what if I lose to much, or can't quit losing. I guess I will have to start eating empty calories again if that happens. No, really, I guess I will add another protein drink to my diet, or something, or something like that. But hey, that would be a wonderful problem in my book! Anyway, after the appointment concluded, I went to the lab and had 9, Yep that's right, NINE tubes of blood drawn, and went on my merry way. Am still mulling over her question. I am 20 pounds from goal, so I guess it is one that I need to give some thought to, and maybe make a plan in case to much weight loss is a problem. (Again, five days after the appointment, I STILL can't wrap my head around loosing to much weight!) For years, whenever my (fat) friends and I would talk about somebody who had an eating disorder (loosing too much, Not to little) we would jokingly say "I just want to be bulimic (or anorexic) till I get down to 20 or 30 pounds BELOW my ideal weight, then I will eat my way back up to perfect!" And we would laugh and laugh, as we sat there eating our calorie laden munchies! But now, comtemplating it as a REAL problem blows my mind. So anyway, that is my post op visit in a nutshell. I am still waiting to get my blood work results. But am thankful every day for my sleeve and the wonderful results I have had so far post op! Thanks to each of you who have posted problems, fears, joys, NSVs etc, as you encourage me daily, help me to continue on this path, and light the way with your experiences for those of us who are right behind you in our journey! Have a GREAT weekend. Later.......

So went to consult and my tentative surgery date is 12/19 and I have all my pre-op required appointments made. I should be done with everything by the middle of next month. I decided the band is the way to go because the sleeve seems too drastic for me. In the past I would work out, lose some of the weight but could never keep it off. Also a bit of a Yo-Yo dieter. I have been having anxiety about failing because a lot of posts on this forum is about not losing weight or gaining weight back. But last night I was wrapping my head around the fact that, I am actually going to have a band put around my stomach because I can not control my eating. I am struggling with myself. I keep thinking "I can do it on my own, this is crazy" and then I think "you haven't been able to do this, do want to live like this forever"....OMG all I want is to wake up next year and say it was the best thing I ever did. I have recently seen posts of people who have lost 100lbs in the year and love it too. I need encouraging thoughts, words, stories. Of those who lost the weight and are loving it, was it with diet alone, band and exercise? Did you find it to be extremely hard to do? I could use some "this was the best thing I ever did" stories. THANKS! PS I will return the favor in a year to the newbies when I wake up and say "this is the best thing I ever did" (trying to stay positive)

My doc told me it takes alot to stretch the pouch back out . He said I would have to basically go back to the way I was eating before I got the band . I dont have no fills in me but there is no way I could eat like I did before,I would get sick before I could eat that much. One of the people in my support group didnt follow the rules for a good two yrs or so and I mean she would eat anything and everything and not very small portions either and she never stretched hers out . Doc said it takes alot of food over time to even stretch it .

Congratulations on your journey! Can't wait untll I reach the 50 lb mark. I can definitely relate to you as it seems my weight loss is going slower than I thought . But like you said, I'll take anything to nothing and as long as we're not gaining.

I have lost 115Lbs. so far, and a long way to go. I started at 356, and last time weighed I was 241. I see my PCP on the 24th. So I will see what I weigh then. Best decision I ever made ! ! ! I lost weight before with the band, and the surgeon over filled me, and thought he blew the band. Well he didn't, it was to tight, so he deflated me. It broke my Heart.... But I waited until I got Insurance again, and I found a New Surgeon to take a look at this damage. Well,,, there was nothing wrong, just deflated. That was 03/03/11, and I am on a roll again. So the ticker shows the weight loss for this year. But like I said it is more then that. This is easy once you understand it. Eat small amounts, make sure the majority is Protein, and be patient. Consistency is the key. Good Health to you Skinny, you made a wise choice. Shirley. This October 31st. is my 6yr. Bandaversary. So this works.

White chicken Chili 3 # chicken breasts—cooked & cubed 1 lg onion diced & sautéed in chix broth 2 # navy beans—cooked about 1+ hours 2 cans white shoepeg corn 2 cans (4.5 oz) green chilis, diced 2 T + chili powder 1 T + cumin or taco seasoning Salt & Pepper Garlic Large can of chicken broth—use to cover other ingredients as simmering 30 minutes or more

This will give you a chance to have a life. You have seen the pics yourself. There are some Beautiful Bodacious Babes on here ! It worked for them, it can work for you.... BUT,,,,,,, you have to be devoted to losing weight ! Consistency is the Key ! It can be complicated at first, but once you get the hang of the Tricks too, you will see how easy it gets. But be patient. this is a slow go, and it takes time. Personally I chose the band after going to a seminar, and hearing the Surgeon explain that for BY Pass they alter your insides, throw out 20' of intestines into Toxic Waste, there is NO ! going back, and Dumping, and Complications can be endless. So I chose the band, because it is forever under the maintenance of your surgeon. Something goes wrong, they can fix it. Unless their is Erosion or you want it out. But even slippage ! These people have surgery to fix it, and keep going. . Bypass: it's up to you. If you regain weight. My surgeon told me that he would be telling me "O well ! I did my job ! Are you doing yours" and that's it...... The sleeve is nice, but again, they cut your stomach up, and the Hunger Hormone grows back in a couple of years. So your Hungry again. I would try the band, and if I wanted more, then add the sleeve, or change to it, or you will see that it works for you. I wish you luck on your research. This October 31st. I will be banded 6 years. So I know it works. You have to learn how to work this tool, and it will come off. Do your research, and decide if you are ready for a New Life. If So Go to a Seminar at a Center of Excellence in Bariatrics. Listen to the difference. then decide. I'm sure you will go far. Your very Pretty, and you know it. So if you want that knock out Body to fit the Vanity you speak of,,,,, it's all doable.. Shirley.

The pb'ing episode probably caused some swelling. You need a slight unfill. Either get into the doctor right away or go on liquids until your appointment.