nightingale2u

I think we need a picture of that beautiful baby! Congratulations on your new bundle of joy and the weight-loss! Darcy

You possibly could drink while eating... but it would decrease the effectiveness of your band. I have found that drinking with a meal it will either come back up or wash the food out of my pouch and make room for more.

Well Paula... Liberia, Africa was pretty safe...lol. I lost a bazillion pounds over the four months that we were there... apparently Spam doesn't set off that trigger in my brain. Seeing dried monkey parts hanging out of baskets didn't seem to trigger the urge to eat either. Yuck. I was sooooooooooo young when we were there (15) ... seems like a million years ago!

Great info and insight Miss Donali! Carbs lead me to "crash" quite often... the whole low blood sugar thing is something I have come to expect if I eat anything such as pancakes with sugar...etc. When they did the glucose tolerance test while I was pregnant... I could barely drive myself home because my blood sugar totally bottomed out and left me a shaking vibrating mess. I definately feel that am hungry more than I should be although those feelings have decreased since starting a diet that is dominated by Protein and smaller amounts of complex carbs. I try to combine carbs with the protein to hopefully avoid the rise and crash of the BS levels. Now... to convince my brain that carbs are evil.

I've been lucky... no public PBing... but I think that is because I am extra careful when my husband and I do go out to eat. THe one thing that I've gotten used to is having the waitress and or waiter be concerned about my liking my meal... they seem so distressed that I have not eaten as much as they would probably guess a chubby girl eats. :clap: I've even had them offer to bring me something else to my liking...lolol. Anyhoo... there won't be any outward signs that you are banded... and nothing will fly out of your body without warning

I had liquid stitches... my personal favorite. I actually felt like my belly was swollen for a couple of months... or maybe it was just that I was too sore to suck it in!

You know guys... It just hit me today that it is probably important that I accept that my problem is much bigger than just "loving food". I have to look at this honestly and see that I took eating far beyond enjoyment and ate to the point of misery. Once I started... I literally couldn't stop myself... it was like something triggered in my brain once I started eating and the only thing that brought it to an end was being so full that I was sick. I think that is why the band is so wonderful... my brain still triggers me to keep eating but I simply have to stop. I pray I will never lose my dear band because this is not a lack of willpower... nor is it a lack of caring about myself or my body... it's not even a lack of knowledge that leads me to binge... what a relief... Diagnosis: Brain Damage.

I was just going to ask that Leatha... great minds. Jonathan ... I sure hope you feel better soon and if you aren't able to at least do the chips or popscicles you really should let them do the IV... keep us updated but don't wait too long to get help!

Right on the button there Vines!

Wowza... you all look great... I may rip my port site open just so Dr. Billy can pack it for me!

What an awesome surprise Miss Betty... congratulations!

Well it certainly sucks for you Miss Lisa... but dang... that is an AWESOME wound! Penni... I would have wrestled you for the chance to pack Miss Lisa's Belly! Hopefully this is the LAST chapter in port incision story... I pray that it will heal beautifully from the inside out! Lisa... at least I know you will keep your hands off this one! (((hugs))) Darcy

Sending wishes for you to have a quick recovery and a big welcome to bandland!

Dr. Chua has reduced his price to 200.00 per fill for private pay but like Leannie said... he requires that you see him prior to going to Mexico if he is to do your fills. I do not think that Dr, Wasco in Neenah requires that. They charge a consult fee of approximately 119.00 and then 75.00 per fill for private pay. Darcy

I'm not getting on the scale today... I've been jumping on the thing all week because I'm so close to breaking the 200 mark. My lowest this week was 201... and then... yesterday the ugly binge monster reared it's ugly head! I need a fill badly... guess I'm just going to have to bite the private pay bullitt and get it done! Until then... I will have to exercise my butt off if I want to make any progress. I know what you mean about goals Greg... I had planned on being under 200 by Christmas... oh well... at least the numbers are going down.

As sorry as I am for you... I can't help but feel a little jealous that Penni gets to take care of that open wound!!!! I'm going to sit right here and wait for the pictures. I'm glad you have another gross friend at home to help you out! I am going to say a big ole prayer for you girl... along with the healing vibes!

Lisa... hope you are feeling much better and glad to hear you are safe and sound at home! You'll have to give us an update when you are up to it! Darcy

Hey LC... I just know you are going to love your band! Congrats on having a surgery date and hang in there... you'll be in bandland before you know it and the nervousness will all be behind you! Cindy... Every insurance company is different... you will need to find out if your insurance pays for bariatric surgery and then find out if they cover the Lap banding. My insurance did pay a percentage of my surgery... but if they hadn't... I probably would have opted to go to Mexico to have it done. Good Luck! Darcy

Hi Dawn... you might want to post your question under the fills and Doctors heading... might be more likely to get some ideas. I am from Oshkosh WI and my Doctor is Doctor Thomas Chua... the other Surgeon's in my area would be Dr. Georgen and Wasco. You might want to find the closest surgeon to you that does bariatric surgery. http://obesityhelp.com has a surgeon finder... that might help you out. Good Luck! Darcy

I felt restricted right up until 3 days prior to my first scheduled fill... I was worried about getting a fill and then bam... WIDE OPEN! I went from very restricted to being able to shove a cornish game hen down whole in a matter of days. Some people never need a fill... some people never fill restricted until they have a fill... everyone has a different experience... you will feel it when you lose restiction... for me it was like night and day. Good luck!

Count me in... I'm so happy there is going to be a get-together closer to WI... YAY! I guess I had better check with my hubby first... NAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.

I won't be able to go ... just not going to be able to financially swing two vacation trips that close together.

Lisa... My sister had the GBP and we hang out a lot... in the beginning I noted a few SBD's... but that passed... so to speak. Haven't noticed anything like that for a long time.

Amazing difference... you both look fantastic!!! Congrats! Darcy

Congrats Melissa and Michelle! I lost 2 pounds this week and it's all Becky's fault. Have a great week everyone!