Christine

Kimberlilly When I first had my surgery, I was also surprise that I did not feel all that great. Alexandra has great advised take it easy and you will be feeling better before you know it. One of my band sister also a problem with her incision leaking. For your health KISS(Keep it Simple) until everything is healed. I am sure in the end you'll be thankful you had the surgery and this will be a distanct memory. Good luck, Christine

Hi Koukla You are doing fabulous. I was also hungry after my first fill. I went back 7 weeks later and the doctor gave me another fill which is wonderful. I think some doctors are kinda funny about giving a fill when losing weight. I know I eat three small meals and two Snacks since I can't eat so much at one time. Good luck. Christine

Thank you for letting us know her status. She has been an inspiration to all of us and I hope things work out for her. Christine

C, I am really bad at giving advise and I hope things work out for you. I've been married for 16 years and marriage like a roller coaster: you have your ups and your downs but hopefully in the end it was worth the ride. I do not agree with your husband being physically abuse, but there is treatment for that. There is medicine as well as counceling to help him understand why he can not control his anger. Of course, he has to want to change. I only know about this medicine because my husband has a hot temper, but has never been physical towards me. My older son has put us through emotional hell the last 4 years and my husband told our primary how angry he was a she prescribed something until things cooled down, which they have. My mother in-law on the other hand, divorced my father in-law after 35 years of marriage. Sometimes I feel bad that she wasted 35 years just so my husband could grow up with two parents. She is now living with a man who is wonderful to her, not physically or emotionally abusive. I know this might sound cold but you need to do what is best for you. Just like my mother in-law, someday your kids will grow up ( in her case my husband move from Oregon to NJ) and leave home to live there own life and what will you be left with. I wish you the best. Only you can make the decision on what to do. Your husband is the one who should go back to his family and apologize for discussing your problems with them. I learned this the hard way. My first year of marriage I asked my father (who by the way is happily divorced from my mom) if I could go home because I was so unhappy. He said you are home and sit down and tell you husband how unhappy you are. That night I sat my husband down and had a heart wrenching long talk. As we laid in bed that night, instead of having sex we played rock, paper and scissor and literally hammered things out. We started our marriage over that night and it was truly a turning point for us. My husband and I never discuss or bad mouth one another to the our family and if our parents say anything to us about the other we immediately shut them up. Don't worry about your in-law they want their son to be happy and will come around. Sorry if this was long. Christine

Best of luck to you and your new band. Keep us posted on your journey. Christine

Theresa I hear your dilemna. I was doing very well without drinking soda. About two months out of surgery I decided that drinking Diet Pepsi is not such a bad thing. I would fill the cup up with ice and twirl the straw to get the acide out. The support group that I was going to (mostly gastric bypass patients) served soda. I did not have any problems digesting the soda. About a week ago, I had this moment of truth and asked myself WHAT THE HECK ARE YOU DOING??? I have since stopped my one glass of Diet Pepsi a day. I so do my soda. I think most people would miss drinking alcohol, I miss my Diet Pepsi. I am totally exhausted without the caffeine. The past two nights I've taken Trim Spa hoping that the ingredients will wake me up. No luck. Bye the way, my husband is from Bandon, Or. Are you close by??? Good luck. I am suffering along with you. Christine

YAHOO! I just went for my second fill and the doctor reiterated and said diet pepsi is fine. Yeah!! I hope nothing is wrong with me but I can really feel my fill. I went from 1cc to 2.3cc. I hope that is normal. I probably have to get used to the tight feeling Christine

Thanks for your suggestions. I really am having a very hard time not drinking at least one glass of soda. I promised myself tonight that I would investigate the h20 w/caffeine. I will let you know how it goes. Christine

I am not sure about this website but I have ordered Isopure online. Good luck Christine

Donali I found your website. You really do look fabulous. I hope in the end I will look as good. Thanks for sharing Christine

Donali. I want to see your website. You look fabulous. I do not see a www on the bottom. What am I doing wrong? Help! Thanks Christine

Hello! I thought I was doing well. I have Blue Cross/Blue Shield POS they approved my surgery. I had my surgery and the doctor submitted the bill for $6,000.00 The insurance paid him $800+. I did not realize that when you go out of Network the insurance over 80% of the amnt they approve for the surgery which is $1.018 and I am responsible for the rest. Needless to say, I receive a bill from the doctor for $6,000.00. I am so upset. Of course the bill is so high because I've also had a fill. The last time I went to his office he would not give me a fill and beleive me I still have quite the appetite. I called my insurance they told me I should consider switching doctors so that they pay for the visit and fills going forward. If I consider this, how would I go about finding a doctor? Would it be a surgeon or a gastroentrologist. I would like to have my husbands surgeon Dr. Sugarman in Bound Brook but he does not do the surgery. Any ideas? Christine :think

Thank you so much. I think that I am definetly going to have to start looking. I do not have all this money. I just receive the bill from the hospital. Hopefully that works out ok. I will keep my fingers crossed. Thanks again for all the leads. I told my doctor last time I saw him that I was going to use the websites as my support. He agreed since the support group I usually go to is geared towards Gastric Bypass, as well as it should. Eveyone there has had one. I am so thankful to have all of you. Thanks again, Christine

I was wondering if some of our mentors who have helped us along this journey could give us a sample of what they eat each day. I just think I am eating way too much. I had a Protein shake for Breakfast I had 3 sugar free Peppermint Patties for snack I had a small serving of tuna fish and an small cup of fat-free vanilla ice cream for lunch I had a bag of popcorn for snack I had Kielbasi and sauerkraut for dinner. Do you think this is too much? Please help. Christine

alexandra Excellent! I am so excited for you. I am still trying to get into the next size smaller. You are an inspiration to all of us. Christine

Hello! I am really having a hard time controlling my food intake. I just had my first fill on 4/14/04. (1.25 cc). I still can eat a horse. Tonight my town is having it's Fireman's Carnival and I ate a whole funnel cake. I am so mad at myself right now. I really wish I could take a diet supplement to get me through until I feel full. My support group which is all Gastric Bypass patients tell me that I am not hungry but I think I am. Did anyone else have this problem? Christine 244/220/140 Banded 3/2/04;)

Thank you for your word so encourage and your advise. One of the hardest things for me to do is not drink when I eat. I will definitely try to incorporate the suggestions you gave me. Thanks again, christine

Renee I just had my surgery on 3/2/04. Sorry this happened to you. My thoughts are with you. Try not to let it keep you down. Good luck Christine

Good luck Gabby! I feel your excitement. I am one day away from having my surgery. Christine

Hello I am having my surgery soon. My doctor told me that he does the fill in his office. Is that right? I thought they were done in a Radiology room. I thought you drank something to find the port. Please let me know if this is right. Thanks, Christine

Teri Hi! I am being banded on 3-2-04 and I am weaning myself off of Diet Pepsi. I know your pain and I know after 3-2-04 there will be no more emergencies where I have a glass. It is a very addictive habit. I even beleive it tastes great. I try to make myself envision a healthier me every time I crave a glass. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Good luck Christine:confused:

I just wanted to say thank you to all of you keeping this website going. I was suppose to have my surgery on 2/23/04 but now 3/2/04. I was just approved by my insurance on Thursday. YEAH!..I just find every support group at the hospital I am having the surgery is for Gastric Bypass. I can't seem to find one person having or had Lapband. Most of the material does not apply to me or at least I do not think it does. I am so glad I have this website to turn to so I know what to expect. Thanks, Christine:)

Hi Alexandra! I have Horizon Blue Cross/ Blueshield PPO. One of my coworkers has Horizon Blue Cross/Blueshield HMO. She is having her surgery at Morristown because I beleive they accept HMO's. I am having mine at Somerset . I hope that is not too much info. Yes, thank God for this website. Hopefully more people will decide to go for the lapband and a support group will form at these hospitals as well. Unfortunatley, the doctors push Gastric Bypass even with all it' s complications. Actually the website is grand because you can look anytime and are not limited to 1 hour each month. Thanks again everyone for your posts. Christine

Sheri I am a heavy diet soda drinker. A Big Gulp on the way to work and several bottles throughout the day and don't forget the ever present 2 liter at home. This concerns me the most about my upcoming surgery which was originally scheduled for 2/23/04 but now it is 3/2/04. I am trying to cut down a little each day and hopefully by surgery date I will be off the bottle. This habit and my Skittles (candy) habit will be the hardest to break. I can't wait for the day when I can go thru without both of them. I can't wait to discover the thin person inside this fat body. I am not a big gum chewer due to extensive dental work so I will not miss that treat. I did hear, however that drinking thru a straw does put excess air in your stomach. I guess it is a try and see how it works out type of thing. Christine

Happy Anniversary! You look fabulous!!!! I can only hope that I have as much success as you.