GeezerSue

KiwiGirl...I don't think you should change to pounds. I think the US should have gone metric when it said it was going to do that. Right now, I still have to buy European friends US measuring cups and spoons, so that they can relate to our recipes! Story: Many years ago, I was helping neighbors from Colombia learn English. The workbook had a lesson on health. The book said, "Mary has a temperature of 104 degrees. Mary is ______." The student was expected to fill in the blank from the provided vocabulary. My neighbor came to my house and said, "Mary is dead, no?" (For the math challenged*, if your temp is 104 degrees in the US, you are sick. In the whole rest of the world, you're somewhere around the "soft ball stage" in candy making. My neighbor figured that Mary had pretty much evaporated.) Sue *I don't think my fellow banded are incapable of computing this, but I know my sister would say, "Huh?" That's why I started this thread.

I really love having people from places which deal in the kilogram and the stone. Any system of measurement which allows me to divide my weight (in pounds) by any number greater than one is clearly superior! For any math challenged who wonder how to "compare" their stats to our friends from the EU or other locations in the former British Empire... --for kilos, divide your weight in pounds by 2.2 --for stone, divide your weight in pounds by 14 Close enough, Sue

North Island? A JAFA? Welcome! I was banded at 55 and will be 57 in a couple of weeks. We can do this, right? Sue

Scotland, eh? I once read a recipe for haggis and thought to myself, "Now, if I lived where that is served, I could get skinny and stay that way." Not so, huh? Well, now I'm glad that you found us and the band...and I'm glad that there's something besides haggis to eat. Maybe I need to visit Scotland after all. Welcome! Sue

Avery, I'm glad that you are willing to travel, but would encourage you to "think bigger," in terms of travel. Close is nice, but experience is way more important, even ignoring money. If I had the choice of a doctor who had done 30 LapBands close to home, and one who had done 1400 in Mexico...oh, wait! I DID have that choice. (The fact that the more experienced doctor also cost less was a plus.) Others will help me here, but there are some experienced doctors in Louisiana and in Austin...but a couple of the doctors in Monterrey, Mexico are WAY more experienced and don't cost as much. Good luck on your search, Sue

Our "kid" had a reduction last July. First thing she said in the recovery room was, "I can breathe." BTW, she was "squeezing" into a 38DDD, but her actual measurement was 36J. Her surgeon removed about two pounds from each side, and she's a dainty D at this point and loving it. I'm planning on a boob reduction and lift (no implants) and a panni or abdominoplasty. I think I'll do that first. I may not wait to get to goal, either. (good thing, given my current progress or lack thereof.) I'm a few days short of 57 years old, I've had a c-section and a hysterectomy, with navel to pubis incisions, and I've looked like Austrian draperies for thirty years, even AT goal weight. So, I kind of feel like I get to have my tummy done just because I want to.

And, you've got the whole boobs-sticking-out-farther-than-tummy thing going, too. Way to go! Sue

Inamed has the boob implants and their stock has done quite well. I have issues with implants for cosmetic reasons, and so I didn't buy that stock. I would have made money with that one. I just figured that JNJ would eventually make make money with their band. They bought Obtech--which owns what is called the Swedish Adjustable Gastric Band--in 2002, and clinical trials were started this year. I know ZIP about CJ Medical's band.

Oops.

In practical terms, I think that right now the Inamed band would be less of a hassle to have "serviced" in the states. That's because the Obtech band is in the middle of clinical trials, so only those doctors involved in the clinical trials have any experience with that brand. My assumption is that the Obtech (Johnson & Johnson) band will be approved and then--because JNJ is a bigger company--JNJ will advertise the hell out of it and it may eventually surpass the Inamed band. (Only an assumption, but I did buy JNJ stock based on that assumption.) But, for the US-based patient, not near a border or a clinical trial site, and not rich or employed by an airline, the more managable band right now would be the Inamed, because at least a few surgeons in most major cities have experience with it. Sue Edited to add: the "Bioenterics band" mentioned on Kuri's website is the old name for Inamed band.

Heard you were looking for info on Dr. Pena. Elma's website tells all about her experiences--including some complications that could happen anywhere. With your expertise, you'll know how to interpret all of the info. http://supergramemr.homestead.com/Photo_Gallery.html Sue

Shelly--Aha! Cute. I bet you're starting to hear comments about your dimples, again, huh? Donali--Thanks! Y'all are both good faeries!

Also, is this very far? While it makes for a horrid "bandster" diet, a Peanut Butter Moo'd with an extra Protein boost can make a day's meals and really up your protein during the post-op stage. http://jambajuice.com/where/index.html?s=NJ

Hi, Holly! I read about one person who ate on the way home from the surgery. Not usually your best move. And certainly an historical cause of bands moving out of their proper placement into dangerous locations. Anyway, MOST doctors want us on liquids (clear and then full) for about two weeks...sometimes more, sometimes less. If you think you might be starving, it is likely because you aren't getting enough Protein. There are many sources, from powders and canned drinks to Jamba juice (my favorite.) Do you live near any juice places? How about a little soft-boiled egg yolk? Many things can BECOME liquids, courtesy of a blender of food processor and a little juice or Water or milk. (This is a post-op diet, don't stay on these foods after the healing process.) What are you eating now? Sue

Oh, crud! Can someone download this and repost it in jpg or gif for all of us bmp deprived? I'd love to see the new Shelly. I think a haircut is often part of discovering who the person who has been hiding really is. I've noticed the haircut as an ongoing theme in wls patients. Do you suppose that "underneath all that hair" is just one more place to hide? (Of course, I'm from the generation BEFORE the long-straight-hair thing hit mainstream, so I also think it may be a function of age...but I'm just wondering.)

I was sent (by someone with painted toes) to the other site and I read where you are declaring yourself pretty much a horse's patooty. Well, no such luck, hot shot. Gaining weight between surgery and the first fill is no biggie. Happens all the time. Enjoy your "mini-fill" and all the holiday goodies, in moderation, of course. You'll be looking like Sinatra in the 50's in no time at all. Sue

Great description, Bright! One doctor told me that only obese people seem to have a need to be "full." I thought it was an interesting point. So, speaking as someone with 0.00 cc's in the band at this point and who has gained several pounds in the past couple of weeks, I can offer you the following off-the-cuff definitions: 1) full--Pre-banding I ate until I got full. With restriction, I can't do that. I can eat only until I can't comfortably eat any more, but I am not "full" the way I used to be. 2) restriction--This is what keeps me from eating until I'm full. Now I can eat a limited quantity, which is certainly "enough" to sustain me, but is never enough to make me feel full, like I did before banding. 3) hunger, physical--I now wonder how many times in my life I have been physically hungry. I suspect it was just a few times. 4) hunger, emotional (aka "head hunger")--This is what makes me want to eat more, even though my body is experiencing restriction AND I know damn good and well that I don't need another morsel of food to survive. So this is how I know that--in my case, anyway--the fat bone is connected to the crazy bone. Now, before someone complains, I'm not saying y'all are nuts, just that I am. And, I'm also saying that losing weight, in my case, will require a lot of work on the emotional part. So, why the band? Because I would NEVER have been able to discover this part of what makes me work without the band. My current goal is to feed my "head hunger" with something other than food...so I can get "head full" or something. You did have a question, didn't you? I experience restriction as a sensation that triggers the mental awareness that I have consumed sufficient food to fill the upper part of my stomach and that if I eat any more I will probably damage my esophagus. (In my case, I probably experience this a little too late, and I wish I got that sensation a little sooner.) It has nothing to do with "satisfaction." For "satisfaction," I have a husband and...well...he smiles more than he used to. Sue

My surgeon was Roberto Rumbaut Diaz in Monterrey, Mexico. He practices in a state-of-the-art teaching hospital in the third largest city in Mexico. This was important to me, as there are plenty of physicians of various specialites at the location at all times of the day and night, in case of any emergency. (The hospital situation is very different in Mexico. There are the high-rent teaching places, and there are some teeny tiny one or two doctor places. There are places where the wealthy and foreigners go, and there are places where Mexican insurance pays. So there may be four hositals on one corner, all serving different populations. You should be very sure of what you need to feel comfortable and what is being offered before you decide on your doctor.) There is nothing "budget" about Rumbaut's hospital accommodations or care. His prices are around $10,000. There are about four or five patients per nurse after surgery on the wing where you stay in your private room with your private bath. Your hospital room will have a little sofa or extra bed for a family member. It's cultural thing; Mexicans generally accompany family members at the hospital, they don't usually take them and leave them there. Patients stay at the Hampton Inn (not included in the price) in Monterrey. That hotel is the budget end of the Hilton chain. It sits next door to an Applebee's and a great Italian restaurant, and a shopping center with an HEB Market (a Texas chain) is adjacent. Rumbaut has placed around 1900 LapBands, and proctors US and other doctors on a regular basis. I was 55 at the time of my surgery and he was most concerned about me that day (he usually does about five bands per day when her has surgery days), due to age and other health considerations. But the surgery was textbook. Office fills (in other words, the doctor's services) are free, but if the fill is done under flouro, you have to pay the radiology place...about $100. (In the states, it runs much more.) Dr. Rumbaut usually asks his out of town patients to have flouro, so he can check band placement etc. while you are in town. The other well-respected Monterrey surgeon is Dr. Sanchez, I think. He has done even more bands, and does several types. Some people have complained about staffing issues, but no one complains about his work. In Tijuana, I've had fills and unfills...but I'll let those patients have a chance to answer. Where do you live? That would be important. Also, don't exclude Europe. Airfare is cheap, some of those doctors are VERY experienced and you can still get fills in Mexico, or locally if they ever lighten-up. Sue

I always think I sound cool when I'm at the Brenda Vaccaro Stage. My daughter prefers the Lauren Bacall Level. (But my kid's a soprano and I'm not.) Sue

BTW, I got unfilled a couple of weeks ago and, right now, I could eat a woolly (or "wolly," if you prefer) mammoth if I wanted. So glad I'm not quite that insane. Yet.

So glad you're here whining; I hate being the only whiner. Sue

Mel, I hope all goes well...and have someone freeze the eggnog. You can drink it post-op! Sue

Tellie, If you're in Melbourne, Australia, you have doctors who are far more experienced than the US doctors. One thing I have found for sure is that US doctors (some of whom have done a half dozen bands) have made up all kinds of rules and diets which the surgeons who have placed hundreds and even thousands of bands haven't needed. It is bizarre. Here's my take...I think band patients are to the surgeons like driving teenagers are to the parents. Your first kid has to meet all kinds of criteria and keep up his/her grades and get home on time and wash the car and not eat in the car and on and on. Your fourth kid gets his/her license and you throw them the keys and forget to worry until they are two or three days late. That's why, IMHO, US doctors are so cautious. They're new at it and almost know what they're doing. (When in doubt, go to the Inamed book.) Sue

I have heard this theme in many different ways...that essentially, on a scale of 1-10, his skills get a ten and everything else gets teeny, tiny numbers. It would be really nice if he could accept the criticism and make positive changes.

Ginger, The reason that I sometimes sound brutal is that I am dense...and don't "get" subtle messages. So I'm going to--foolishly and without her permission--try to paraphrase Donali, in case anyone else processes information the way I do. When we talk about "cheating" and "being bad," we are inadvertantly admitting that we are playing games instead of dealing with why we are making the choices we are making. I know someone (not me--really!) whose approach to is to "confess" that she's been "a bad little girl," and then her husband actually babytalks and tells her something along the lines of "you had a 'bery' bad day and it's not your fault and maybe we should have some ____ (fill in the blank)." Well, isn't that special? Meanwhile, he still leaves the house at 4:00 a.m. when he could wait until about 7:00 to leave, and he still works every Saturday he isn't golfing (he's management, so he's not making extra money for all of this), and he still works even though he could retire and they would be just fine and she is so lonely she could die...so she's 5'1" and 300+ pounds and killing herself with food and he's telling her it's okay. One of the things I'm working on is making an honest appraisal of why I'm making the choices I'm making. (I don't know even half the time...like I said, I'm working on it.) But I have to omit the concepts of "being bad" or "cheating," because if I use that language, I'm playing a little game instead of getting to the root of the problem. Did I make any sense here? Probably not. But if I did, and you're in the mood, join me! Once in a while, I find myself thinking, "I'm eating like a maniac because I'm going out to lunch with Kathy and her mom (whom I haven't seen in 40+ years) and I'm nervous." Then I get to decide if I really want to eat the junk. (In this particular case, I did. But at least I knew why, and didn't call myself names and berate myself. I just said, "I'm comforting myself with food. Next time I have a lunch date, I think I'll go sit in the hot tub before I go.") Sue *who drinks carbonated Water almost all day*