tanna

Hi, I live in the Austin area and had the lap band surgery in April of 2003 by Dr. Dilawn of Capital Surgeons. I would be glad to correspond with anyone who is looking for a fellow Texan bandster for support. Good luck to all. Tanna

Nancy, Good luck with your banding journey!! I hope this will be the last time any of us ever have to loose our excess weight!! Tanna

Hi everyone, It is great to see all of you fellow texans on this board! Good luck with your journeys into "bandster land". The place where I started my search for a surgeon was on spotlighthealth.com. They have a surgeon locater sight that led me to my surgeon Dr. Dillawn in Austin. I hope that helps! Good luck, Tanna

Hi Sheryl, Thanks for your reply! I agree with your opinions on the subject, it just saddens me to see the rivalry! We should all stand together and promote WLS as life saving to the millions of obese people around the world! No one has to live that way forever! After doing research on the RNY and the band....the choice was clear for me. I too think it will one day become the gold standard in bariatric surgery! I guess it is up to us patients to show the world that it works!! As a matter of fact...the group of surgeons that performed my lapband surgery are starting to refuse to perform the more risky RNY. That is evidence to me that it won't be long before lapband surgery outnumbers RNY. Congrats on your weightloss! 60 pounds! WooHoo!!!! Tanna 305/255/150

I wouldn't worry to much if I were you. You really are not supposed to feel much restriction (unless you are really lucky) until your first fill! But do try to follow your doctors dietary instructions as closely as possible. I really didn't feel any restriction until my first fill six weeks post op and I moved on to mushy food a little earlier than my doctor wanted me to as well! Good luck, Tanna

I have never understood why there is so much antagonism between RNYers and Lapbanders! Aren't we all in the same boat trying to accomplish the same thing! The lap band was the right course for me but I completely respect people's decisions to choose another method. And I wish them well! May we all erase the descriptive term of obese from our personal profiles forever is my prayer for every wls patient whether RNY or lapband or whatever!!! I would hope they would wish me the same! Good luck, Tanna

Hi everyone, To respond to the question earlier...I am also an elementary school counselor. However I am currently an at home mom for my two small children. I told Jennifer in a private message that I have decided to let all family members know about my surgery. I am careful about which friends I tell. Some I have decided to answer very similarly to what some of you posted...that I am eating a lot less and exercising!! It just depends on who I think will support me and who I think will judge me harshly! I guess we all are faced with those determinations of the people in our life. I think the lap band is turning out to be an amazing behavior modification tool! I used to crave breads and carbs. Now that I have had two fills, my band won't let me indulge in these old favorites. I find myself every once in a while looking at a cinnamon roll or a slice of thick crusted pizza and what flashes through my mind is PAIN rather than anticipation!! Every day it becomes more and more easy to want better foods!! Thank heavens for the band!!!! I really think this is going to work this time around! Good luck everyone, Tanna 4-23-03 305/255/150

I found myself having the same feelings right before being banded as you did. I had my share of last supper's as well. Now almost 4 months after banding I still experience moments of sadness that I can no longer indulge in some of my former favorite foods. However, my sadness is quickly replaced with a feeling of gratitude for this band that is helping me to conquer my addiction for food! As time passes I am starting to really believe that this band will work for the long term. I am starting to really believe that I won't regain this weight sometime in the future like I have done on every other weight loss program I have tried. This realization fills me with delight! Good luck, Tanna 305/255/150 P.S. I too am a counselor.

I was banded a few months ago and watched a lot of weight come off effortlessly! I am ashamed to admit that I didn't start exercising until just this week! I don't think my weight loss will continue to come off as easily without some help from me in the form of exercise!! So three cheers for the treadmill!

Hi Robin, You don't know me...but I have been following your progress on your websight for months now! I started out around the same weight as you and your story gave me a lot of motivation to go for the surgery for myself! I am so glad I did! Thanks for posting your story and pictures! You are an inspiration! Tanna 4/23/03 305/255/150

Hi Larry, I lost about the same amount on the liquid phase as well and just like you things slowed down until my first fill six weeks post op. I have now had 2 fills and am down 50 pounds as of this morning! Woohoo!!! Things should pick up for you after you have a fill or two! Good luck. Tanna

I can relate to your desire to have a baby! I too want to have another child. I decided to go ahead and have the lapband surgery to lose as much weight as possible before getting pregnant. I have a lot more to lose than you do so I feel like it was a good decision for me! One of the main reasons I chose this surgery was because the level of restriction can be adjusted when you are pregnant! I liked that feature a lot!! Good luck to you and your husband on your weight loss!

Hi everyone, I am new to this board and thought I would start out by introducing myself. I was banded on April 23rd,2003 in Austin Texas by Dr. Patrick Dilawn. I have lost a total of 49 pounds so far! It has been somewhat easy up to this point but I have a feeling the next 50 pounds won't come off this easily. I dusted off my treadmill for the first time this past week to help the weight loss out. I am glad to be a part of this new board and am looking forward to meeting lots of fellow bandsters to share this journey with! Tanna