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Hey Everyone, I just found this post and I would love to join in... I really need some encouragement. I think my body bounced back very quickly following my second banding and I feel so good that it is extremely difficult to stick to mushy foods. I have had a few 'soft' solids chewed very well with absolutely no problems... but the weight is not falling off the way it did with my first banding. This morning I was 238lbs. I won't get on the scale until next Monday... I promise! Thanks for the support and especially for the motivation. All of you are doing so great! Have a great and healthy week!

Yipee!!! November will be here like it is next week! Especially since you have a list of pre-reqs to complete prior. Congratulations on taking this next step in your 'prison' release.

My vote... So happy to hear of your loss Thanks,

If it gave you a bad feeling, then I would go with that and not order it via the Net. I order a lot of things online and I try to stay with sites that will let me use my credit card over a secure connection. I say it is best to go with your gut feeling... I bet if you use 'google' and look for other online stores for wigs you could find a bigger more reputable company that would offer you a feeling of security if you order online. Good Luck!

Audrey, I always enjoy reading about your journey and sharing in your successes. Thank you for sharing. You have done an amazing job with your band and there was only one thing I saw missing from your post… You, my dear, should feel so very very proud of yourself. Pat yourself on the back and give yourself a big hug!!! The band is only a tool and you still had to work extremely hard to get where you are today. I have enjoyed your beautiful before and after pictures and I thank you for your insightful shares on this site. You make me proud to say that I have a cyber friend who has accomplished so much. Keep up the great job and look ahead of all you will have to Celebrate next year at this same time. Good luck and congratulations!!! :D :cool:

Thank you for sharing. This is very touching and I can totally relate. Good luck with your journey. I wish you much success.

Hi Abundant, My original port moved as well. My doc thinks it is because of my regular gym schedule. I work Abs pretty regularly and she thinks that I the ab muscle development caused my port to turn slightly on its side. It wasn't flipped and was still secured to the muscle at all 4 locations, but the best way for her to access it was when I layed on my side vs. my back or sitting up... Believe me, we tried all locations and even under floro it was tough finding the exact point of entry. I have a new band now (due to a leak) and my doc moved my port to a new location, I will have to wait another 4 weeks before my first fill, so we will see if this new location makes for easier access.

Yep, I agree... you look like a different person. Your eyes are so BIG now... you look absolutely fabulous!!! Thanks for sharing your progress.

Thanks Bright! I just noticed how great you are doing... down 65lbs!!! That is fantastic. I think it is time for you to bless us with more of your beautiful before and after pictures. I will have to wait until I get to solids to know for sure, but I have a feeling that my new band won't have the same affect on me as the original 'Berpitha'... I am going to have to think of a new name if that exasperating experience of over emphasized burps does not return... I am keeping my fingers crossed... how embarrassing it was

Hi All, Sorry I have been a ghost again. I have been so busy with work and around the house, I haven't had a moment to even check in and see how everyone is doing. I hope you are all doing well. Me and Berpitha (A.K.A. - my beloved band) are off to surgery bright and early tomorrow morning. Once my doc got back from her vacation, she scheduled my LapBand replacement quickly. The folks at Inamed say that they have never had a case of LapBand leakage at the balloon site. All other leaks have been at the port site... So Berpitha may be the first!!! Unfortunately, she will have to go back to Inamed so that they can check her out. My insurance has approved this new surgery, so I am going back to have the whole thing done ALL OVER AGAIN! Not sure if my new band will take on the alias of Berpitha2... we will have to see how she responds to her new digs. Wish me luck. I am a little nervous, but I think it is more because I know what to expect and I really don't know how I will stay positive during the recovery period. BUT, I have a new chance at success and for that I am grateful. Take care everyone and I promise to check in when I am filling up to it. Be good and have FUN!!!

Hi CateringQueen, I love spicy foods and the only thing I have noticed is that I cannot take as much heat now that I have my band and I did prior to getting banded... BUT, I believe this is not really due to my band, but due to the fact that I no longer drink with my meals. I use to love something really spicy washed down with a nice cold drink or better yet an ice cold Coors light!!! Now, I don't drink Coors light (carbonation) and I don't drink for at least an hour after meals (another band rule)... so I cannot take the type of heat I was able to handle before. Otherwise, I still enjoy my spicy foods. Hope you will too!

Hi Renee, Does your doctor fill you under floro? If so, you might see if he can check for a leak by giving you a fill under floro, but instead of saline, he would inject a 'constrast' solution... I think it is called Omnipaque. My doc thinks I had a leak in the balloon of the actual band... no where near the port; which is where she originally thought the problem was. I had similar experience to you. I would go get a fill and have some restriction and then over a 2-3 week period it would lessen... when I would go back to the doc for my next fill, she could never take out what she put in. Each time it seemed to get worse, to the point that when she put the fill in and immediately tried to pull it all out... some would be missing. My doc does not fill under floro and a couple of times she missed the port, so at first she thought I might have a leak in the port tubing. I had a floro at the hospital and she filled me with the contrast Fluid under floro... no leak showing at the port and along the full length of the tubing... but when she got to the actual band, she could see the fluid leaking there... The folks at Inamed said that they have never had a leak in the actual balloon, so they wanted to see the band when it was removed. I was re-banded on 8/13 and my doc sent my original band back to Inamed. I hope this is not your problem, but I did want to share my story. Please keep me in the loop as to what you find out. My thoughts are with you. Take care,

Happy Anniversary Alex! It is refreshing to read your post and to see how so much of what you have gained has been about your actions and emotions and not how much weight you have lost. I think when the weight starts coming off it is easy to focus soley on that aspect of what the band has provided us, but I always take notice to your posts because they give me hope that I can learn so much more about myself as I continue on this journey. I know that I struggle with head-hunger and wanting to use food to relieve stress, pain, tiredness, etc. But, reading insightful messages from you and others on this site (Donali, to name just one of the extraoridinary folks that spend time here)... I see hope and that is something I lived so many years without and didn't even realize it. Thank you for sharing your jouney.

Audrey, I just checked out your photos and you are doing a wonderful job with your band. You look great and have come such a long way. You smile says it all!!! Congratulations!

Carol, You look wonderful. Purple/lavender is certainly a color that brings out your 'glow'. You were beautiful in your before pictures and just better in your present photo. Congratulations!

Leatha, I agree, it has been a much easier ride this time.... pain, food, energy... Not sure why, but I am grateful. I started pureed foods and I even feel like I have more restriction than I had at this stage the last time. Now, I am looking forward to getting back to the gym... then maybe I will really see the weight begin to fall. Donali, Maurice, New Hope, Penni, Jennye, Vera, Darci, Neicy, Nancy, Leatha, Theresa, Betty, Michelle (shellyj), Michelle (LaMadam) and Alexandra..... THANK YOU, you all are the best and if I accidentally forgot someone... please forgive me and know that I appreciate you as well.

Michelle, I just checked out your 1 year pics and I am speechless! :D Check out your legs... I love that little skirt you have on. You look absolutely fantastic!!! You have done such an incredible job. I know you must feel so proud! What wonderful accomplishments and goals you have met over the last year. Thanks for sharing.

Hi Seanmama, I agree with Penni. I think you should discuss this with your band doc. I have read too many posts from people who have done serious damage by ignoring these signs. You may not really be at your sweet spot... you may be too tight and I have heard as little as .1-.2 of a cc may help to relieve your symptoms... to me this would be better than waiting and possibly doing some damage that will require your entire fill to need removal until you heal. Take care and all the best. I hope you are feeling better soon.

Hi Penni, What a great accomplishment!!! It really boosts my motivation to try harder when I actually see results... either with weight loss or a wonderful NSV like this one. You look so cute and ready to get busy with your workout... keep up the great job.

Hi Brianna, You will probably find from the responses you receive that everyone is different and it probably depends upon the level of restriction that your Mom ultimately reaches. Now with that said... I can say that with only my band and no fill, I can eat anywhere from 1-3 cups of food depending upon the food type. I have never reached my sweet spot w/ restriction, so I cannot say what the smallest amount of food would be for me with proper restriction at any one meal.... but I have experienced slight to med restriction and could eat about 1 cup of food. 1oz seems extremely unrealistic... but that is my opinion. Hope your Mom does well.

Hey Everyone! Thank you all for your well wishes. I haven't felt much like using a computer, since I have to do that daily and only took 1 day off for my surgery. Luckily, I had the weekend to recover... but by the end of my work day, I was so beat I just had to rest. The surgery was successful. I had an endoscopy first and everything w/ my stomach looks great. I feel less pain this time and am trying to figure out if this is because my insides were use to the band and this is not such a dramatic difference than when I was first banded... or if I used my Morphine pump more this time and it helped me heal faster. My only complaint is that I got some serious chest congestion and the coughing has been hard... Imagine my big butt laying over a pile of pillows just so I can cough a couple of times... not a pretty picture I am on clear fluids the rest of this week and move to pureed next week. My first post-op appt is tomorrow and I think I will bounce back more quickly than the last time. The only weight that has really come off is the excess I gained just before this second surgery. I already know the doc is going to make me wait 6 weeks before my first fill, so this will be my next challenge. Thank you all for your support.

Thanks everyone. I appreciate the support... and (((hugs))) You ALL are so great!

Hi Kim, I will be curious to see how your Quest for LabBand via Kaiser goes. I am not trying to rain on your parade, but my Mom works for Kaiser here in Northern CA and has spoken with many Kaiser employees who wanted LapBand, but Kaiser said 'no', but 'yes' to RNY. I will keep my fingers crossed for you. It would be great if more HMO's and insurance companies would realize the benefits of LapBand. Good Luck!

Hi Margret, I agree w/ Leatha. Focus on healing and following your proper stage of foods. If you enjoy creamy soups, enjoy... it will probably take you 2-4 meals to eat 1 can. Forget about your pre-band days when you could eat a can of soup in one sitting! Take Care,

Hi Margret, Not that many people have noticed (I haven't lost much yet), but when someone does ask... I say, I am eating smaller portions, focusing on Protein first and exercising. I have only told my mom, boyfriend, and 1 close friend about my band... and now that I have only lost about 15lbs since Feb., I am glad I kept my mouth shut. Very hard for me to do because I am an open book, but in this particular case it was a good test for me. Had I told everyone, I could hear them every time they saw me... How much have you lost now? And since I haven't been very successful thus far, that would really bring me down. I will be interested to hear what others have to say.