La_madam

Monday 10/18 3 lbs for me this week It's been six and a half months and I'm down 61 lbs!! Teresa- Great Job on the weight loss this week, you are doing such a fantastic job..

LOL..LOL..LOL.. You got me cracking up here..I can relate! I too am addicted to this site P.S. Where's your picture Tall Guy??

Hi Betty.. I willbe thinking about you tomorrow. I hope everything goes smoothly for you. This time tomorrow you wil lbe banded !! WOO HOO. Let us all know how things went when you are feeling up to it.. (((HUGS)))

I agree both Penni and Marie are always so supportive and sweet.. Great asset to the board!

Congratulations! You are one step closer to being banded! Hooray for you :banana

Hi Penni..Thanks for the support and kind thoughts. His initial diagnosis was ALL (leukemia) I just get a little scared when these episodes happen becasue as you well know being a cancer nurse that there are some chemotherapy's that can cause other cancers to surface so I find myself everytime he has a fever that takes days to weeks to break I'm a wreck thinking the worst.. He has been checked one other time for brain tumors becasue of the same excrutiating vomiting headaches happening a year and a half ago and it was just a severe sinus problem where he had to have his sinuses drained once a week for 4 weeks so like I said I'm hopeful. Right now he is taking Xanthones to boost his immune system but obviously it is not working. He see's his oncologist on Tuesday morning unless it worsens over the weekend then she advised me to take him to the ER..Keeping my fingers crossed

Thanks Vera I'm glad I could help..Since my tragedies struck.. my kids and family have become my main priority..the death of a child sure has a way of changing a person I can attest to that. I'm sure your children will be so greatful to have there mommy around more. Life is too short, money is not everything. If you can manage it financially then I say go for it..your will reap the benefits from it in such a more meaningful way then financially. I'm very happy for you, it was so bovious to me in Vegas just how much your family means to you now you will have more time to show them! Right now I'm not feeling too strong, my son ( the one who had cancer and is in remission) Is not doing so good right now. They will be testing him on Tuesday, he has been having high fevers, excruciating headaches that make him vomit..he has been battling this ever since Oct 2nd, they thought it was the flu and strep throat but 2 weeks of penicilin and nothing is working. They will be doing tests to determine why his immune system has not bounced back in the last 2 years after finishing his chemo and try to find out what is causing these horrible headaches. I'm a little nervous but Im praying and I'm hopeful

Ok I went and put my band date in April 6th

Hi Kim & Welcome Congrats on your upcoming surgery! This is a great site..full of knowledge and awesome support. We are like 1 big happy family :cool:

Hi Bright Welcome back You were missed. Carol Vera and I did wonder in Vegas where you had been. Glad to here you are doing OK..

I keep my vitamins right next to my bed and after dinner I take 2 Centrum chewables...my dinner mainly consists of protein so I guess I'm doing it right. Maybe this is why if I take vitamins on an empty stomach I get sick and nauseas. Hmmm interesting

If they are treating you poorly now..it may not get any better post op. Just a thought

Megan I'm so glad I had a chance to meet you in Vegas..you are such a sweetheart. What a fantastic story! You give me inspiration when I read this. Thanks for sharing your story with all of us. You look fabulous. You attitude is awesome. I wish you continued success. Keep it up Megan you are beautiful :cool:

Hi Dan I live in Southern California I researched the band for over 6 months! I did not and never would qualify for my insurance to pay for my band for 2 reasons #1 being that Blue Cross of California does not cover it and #2 even if they did I was not a candidate. I had none ZERO co- morbitities. I was in perfect health just FAT! I went to 3 doctors here in my area. All three of them were over 15,000 dollars, all3 of them were trained by Mexican doctors, 2 of them by Dr .Ortiz ( my Mexican Surgeon) both of these 2 were the ones who told me about Dr. Ortiz and asked if I had ever considered Mexico as an option since I was a self pay so with that I felt very confident in my choice to go to Mexico. I also contacted Inamed and asked for a list of Dr.'s in Mexico and Ortiz's name was at the top of the list. An Inamed representative told me Dr. Ortiz was a proctor for Inamed and traveled the country and the world to teach this surgery again I felt very confident in my choice. Yes malpractice is an issue in Mexico but it can happen any where. I wanted a doctor with experience, a doctor who had placed several hundred if not thousands of bands. Dr. Ortiz was the man for me! I got lucky I got it cheaper then here in the states and I also had one of the most experienced band surgeons in the country. Do you realize that most Mexica ndoctors give you their cell phone numbers to cal lthem anytime day or night with any questions or problems?? Tha is un heard of here in the states, to get through to your doc here in the US you have to go through an auto mated service to have a message taken and hope to god they get back to you the same day.The incredible care I recieved in Mexico, not just from Dr. Ortiz & his staff but also from the hospital staff is not even comparable to here in the US..I do not regret my decision for one single second. This is why I chose Mexico over US

I went to Mexico and had an Inamed(lap band) If you go to Inameds site www.lap-band.com and click on surgeon locator in your area a list will come up and you can call all of the docs in Texas to see if they take Mexican patients. Many docs in the US will not take Mexican patients and if they do they charge and high price ( some don't)..but arranging your aftercare in your area is so important if you are not planning on going back to TJ for fills. I have read about many patients who have been banded in Mexico to only find out they can not get aftercare in their local area. My experience in Mexico was great, no regrets. I live in Southern CA so going to Mexico for my aftercare is fairly easy.

Hey Karen Thanks for posting your recipe. That dip was so yummy! My family will love it. It goes down way to easy for us bandsters but hey it is good to make for a special occassion which is just what last weekend was. I enjoyed talking with you..you are such a sweet person. Looking forward to seeing your pictures...

Ryan I just love the way you express yourself with your words. Fall is definately my favorite season. I love the smell in the air, the changing of the leaves on the tree and the chilly nights & Halloween is my most favorite holiday!! ( must be the witch in me :cool:

Yep, it's normal to feel hungrier as the weeks progress before your first fill. Once all the swelling & gas went away was when I noticed an increase in my appetite which was about 3 weeks post op, so you are right on target..not to worry it will all change once you start to get your fills. Hang in there Nov 5th will be here in no time :cool:

Great Job Marie! Congratulations.. Can't wait til I'm in onderland with you.

I believe that with the carbs, whenever I eat carbs Im hungry all day long. I wll have to remember the brushing the teeth thing and give it a try..Thanks!

Yes we did miss you..Vera Carol and I even spoke of you in Vegas. Glad you are back!

You are not alone.. I have a major sweet tooth here and am fighting it big time! Benn kind of a downer day for me to Lisa..Hmmmmm...maybe we just all are having let down from such a nice weekend together.

Penni I hope it is nothing serious...maybe you just partied too hard in Vegas this weekend I will keep you in my thoughts tomorrow. I know you will let us know the miute you know anything.

Do you mean gas bubbles? Or the bubbles from carbonation? I have heard of other people getting pains in their shoulders after they eat...I know that your body gives you a sign of some sort when you have eaten enough since we can no longer experience that "Thanksgiving " uncomfortable full feeling like we did pre band... for me I get one of those ice cream brain freeze headaches so I know it is time to stop. Maybe the shoulder pain is your sign?? Or it could just stil lbe trapped gas..I still get gas cramps. I'm gassier more then ever since being banded.

Leatha..Ginny & Babs all came to Vegas from Texas..I'm sure they would be interested. They like to party! Hmmm..I could fly to Texas for the bash