leatha_g

Thanks everyone for such kind words. I was talking to a friend yesterday, speculating how much I might weigh by now if I hadn't gotten the band. Things would definitely be different in that photo if I hadn't. I might not even be in it at the rate I was going. Thank goodness for the band!

I wished. lol, but alas, there isn't anyone who'd put up with me. lol.

Regarding the snow in Texas.. Glory hallelujah IT's GONE and the sun is back!! YIPPEE!!

I did see a guy who does scuba diving in Mexico on Yahoo Groups Smartbandsters. I'm sorry, I don't recall his name.

Find something to take it's place. Get up and walk, crochet, knit, play with the little ones, read, focus more on the 'visiting' part of a meal with others than the food. It will come, but it takes practice. I think the thing that's best for me is that I SO enjoy NOT having that awful fully stuffed feeling anymore when I leave the table. I had lunch yesterday and was so 'full' that I didn't even have dinner. You'll get there!

you don't drink DURING meals and up to 1hr afterwards, so that you don't wash the food through. there are several different size bands and different makes in other countries. here is a link to the Inamed band differences. See Page 2. http://www.gisurgery.net/OverviewObesityBariatricSurgery.pdf

Good luck with your surgery!! Please don't stop here with your research. This is a lifelong, life-changing decision. We want you to be fully aware of both the ups and the downs. Believe me, there are both. You've chosen a great Dr., but do you have local aftercare in the event of emergencies or routine follow-up?

The band has been used in Europe since 1993. I do believe there are some people overseas who have much longer experience than those of us in the US. Jessie Ahroni, a PhD Nurse Practitioner who wrote the first book released on the LapBand and who has had hers for about 6 years has said it's meant to last a lifetime. This silicone is one of those things they don't want in the landfills due to the inability of decomposition over years. That being said, I've also seen her say that no one REALLY knows how long it will last and it would definitely have to do with how well it was maintained by each person and any complications one might endure. I think it will be a very individual thing, but, like Jessie, I'd replace it every year if I had to and if I could find a way insurance/money-wise to do it. Welcome to the group!

Definitely don't take steri-strips off before their time. If you have an opening in your wound, you can buy clean strips at the drugstore. That's all you have to hold the incisions together until they begin to close by themselves. Normally, the instruction is to let those come off on their own. Glad to hear you're doing well! You'll be posting your losses in no time!

Thank you Marie, but actually, I think I look much older here due to a new perm and some terrible grey roots. Either way, a year ago, I couldn't have squatted on the floor like that with such ease. lol.

Ryan... thank you for sharing the magic. I'm pretty sure I've heard it before, too.

My kiddos came and we had dinner today. My daughter had to have dinner at her MIL's last night, so today was my day. We usually go to a brother's, but this year MiMi had to work so we stayed close to home. First time ever it was just us and a guest from South Africa. We had a nice dinner with all the trimmings then played cards most of the evening. All is quiet now.. but, I did look in this morning, too.

Welcome Curley!! Glad to have you here with us! Sounds like you're headed in the right direction!

LOL Marie. Merry Christmas to everyone! Here's wishing you all a safe and happy holiday and a wonderful, LOSING New Year. (as in weight, I mean.)

Good news, Darcey!! What a great Christmas gift to yourself!! Keep us posted!

I've had to resort to thinking more about fiber than protein. Benefiber chewables help, having bran cereal for breakfast, also frosted mini wheats, apple juice, prunes... fun, fun, fun..

This is not a clear cut issue, really. Cigna definitely does approve the lapband, but this is not really in Cigna's hands. Every employer purchases a unique policy. Some include weight loss options, some clearly do not. You need to read your own policy or call Cigna with the ICD9 Code used in banding and ask them if YOUR particular group policy approves this type of surgery. In my case, I had Cigna PPO with my first banding surgery. I was approved first try and within a week of their receiving my paperwork. I changed to Cigna EPP the following year and was rebanded due to slippage and they approved this surgery as well. No problem. It simply has to do with what your own company's policies are. Some employers simply did not choose to have weight loss efforts included in their coverage. This is where you have to start. I wish you luck!

The shoulder pain is referred pain from your diaphragm, which is stretched and agitated during surgery. It takes some time for this to heal and you may have intermittent shoulder pain for several weeks. you'll notice it most when you do things that agitate the diaphragm, such as coughing, sneezing, hiccuping, burping. Walking is still the best medicine for this. This and your breathing exercises. This too shall pass.

Yes. It's very common to have complaints regarding your port placement. As far as I know, there is no 'port erosion' complication. Some people can have infected ports or flipped ports, but I've not heard of port erosion. I had the left mid abdomen placement for my port and the first year, I was very aware of my port pretty consistently. If I wore clothing that binded against it, or sat bent at the stomach for hours it would become sore. Also exercising or pulling against it would irritate it. This too shall past, but you may be aware of it for quite some time.

Note to new bandsters.. loss of restriction means losing the sensation AFTER you have had it. This does not mean that someone who has not yet been filled or reached initial restriction has erosion. This is something that happens AFTER one has had some restriction and suddenly has to go for fills and gets no sensation of being filled several times over.

Just wondering. For those of you who ordered Dr. Ortiz's book, have you received it? Seems like it oughta be here by now, but I've not received mine???

Welcome to the banded side everyone of you!! What a way to start your new year!!

Mush Bettah...

:squareeye tsk, tsk, tsk.....young lady, don't make me come down there...

Yes ma'am. It's very normal. Your stoma is an opening, which drains into the lower stomach - picture a funnel. Any liquid will most often flow pretty freely. It may be a bit slower than without the band, but most folks can sip pretty continuously. I wouldn't try guzzling at this point, you're liable to backup and flow over, but normal drinking or sipping should not be a problem. Once you begin mushies/soft foods you'll also notice you can pretty much eat as much of that as you want to. This is where we tell you ' just because you CAN doesn't mean you should' and you have no restriction yet so you will feel wide open until you get a fill or two which causes some restriction. Having said all of that... there are those who DO wake up with restriction right out of surgery. Remember, this is healing time. Any weight loss before your fills begin are purely bonus! Welcome to the forum! Please feel free to take the time to gather as much information as possible from all the many threads in this forum. There are so many answers free for the taking. Also, we'd love for you to go to the Introductions section and tell us a bit about how you come to get the lapband and find this forum. Again, welcome! Congrats on your banding!