Neicy

I can't resist, I gotta jump in here! I had a co-ordinator, yep I knew she was being paid. I was comfortable with her for all the reasons Alex cited. I was scared to go out of the US, didn't know a lick of Spanish, and somehow felt safe with an American rep. She was very helpful to me and everything went just as she said it would. She was also there in Monterrey when I had surgery. BUT, if I knew then what I know now, I would have saved that money and called direct! I could have done everything for myself, and I just didn't have that confidence at the right time. Sue, you are right on with that, for the benefit of those doing research, call direct! The problems with lacking aftercare lies with the Doctors, not their liasons. If a doc is a good, he'll take care of his patients. If he stinks, he ignores the problems and hope they go away! This forum tells potential patients the real story about the good surgeons and no good rotten stinking ones to avoid!

Congratulations Donali, you are awesome! I am so happy for you, you've earned sucess.

Best wishes to you on your birthday.

Yeah it's true, this thread in particular is better than the soaps! It has humor, romance, philosophy, advice, and one heck of a story line. No wonder I can't get anything done! BTW, I also have been pigging out. I was starting to get scared, but then I read all those true life confessions and now I feel normal again. Thanks everyone!

Best wishes Tina. Don't worry, be happy!

I never did clear liquids. They actually gave me yogurt drink the following morning after I was banded in the hospital. I did liquids for 2 weeks, then mushys for 2 weeks. When I did start regular food, I got some twinges of discomfort so I stuck to soft foods for a couple of weeks after.

Awesome news! Those prayers I said for you got the OK! I am so glad for you.

Leatha. you are making awesome progress! You do look like a different person. I can't wait till you can see a difference on me. Now that my fill is working, hopefully I too can be in the line up! I love pictures too, it puts a face to the name, and inspires me to make the right food choices.

It's a very hard thing to change the way you've eaten all your life. I've had a hard time slowing down and chewing enough. I've been filled for 1 week and my fill kicked in yesterday at lunch. My band let me know in a hurry that it wasn't tolerating my bad habit of woofing down. And don't even think that a sip of water will relieve the golf ball! When you really think about it, chewing longer lets us appreciate our food better. I don't know about ya'll, but I've become more selective. I'm not eating anything that doesn't taste really good to me. Know what I mean?

Some of our posts do resemble the soaps! I guess it's because it's real life, and everyone is willing to share their experience, fears, goals, achievements, failures, hopes and dreams. I think it's wonderful.

We all need help from time to time and this IS the nicest group of people in this forum. I'm like an addict, every chance I get, I log on and check on everybody. Besides, not many people know I'm banded, and I can't talk to them about it. Even if I did they could not relate. I am lucky that my daughter and I share the band experience. It has brought us closer together. She laughs at me 'cause I'm always checking in the forum. She said after a while I'll get used to being banded and just go with it. I guess I'm in a state of hyper excitement that I am finally able to lose weight after struggling so hard for all of my life. I am rambling on, must get to work now.

Thanks ya'll, I definitely need to slow down and chew more. That golf ball feeling really sucks! Now that I have restricton I will have to consiously pay attention to what, when and how I eat. Gone are the days of blindly popping something into your mouth and chomp, chomp,swallow! That will put the hurt on you quick, and once or twice is all I need to cure me of that!

You guys are beautiful! My daughter is also banded, she got her band last November and has lost 60 lbs. She inspired me to get off my scaredy-cat ass and get banded too. Isn't it great, I just thank God for this band every day!

Hey Carolyn, I was told no nsaids also. And I LIVED on them pre-band. I wasn't sure I could make it without them, but I have done ok with tylenol. I've worked in dentistry for 20 years now, and it seems that clenching and grinding is the way most women deal with stress. You need to break the habit of holding tension in your jaw. I attended a seminar on TMJ several years ago and the lecturer said that your teeth should only come together momentarily when chewing or for diction when speaking. I was blown away by this. I walked around with my teeth clenched all the time without realizing it. When I started to make a consious effort to keep them separated, I was amazed how my neck and shoulders became so much more relaxed. Try it, keep your tongue between your teeth while you are awake. If you grind in your sleep, you may need a habit breaking appliance to wear at night. It could be an occlusal guard or there is a newer one called a NTI appliance that works great and it is not bulky, much easier to tolerate. If you want more info on this , there is a website called headachehope.com. Warm compresses and muscle relaxers work real well to break the pain cycle. Hope this helps.

I feel so blessed after reading these posts, I had a really rough childhood, but no major tragedies as an adult. If and when my turn comes around, I hope I can muster the strength, grace and wisdom that it takes to weather the storm and come out a better person as you all have done. I am in awe of you, Michelle, Leatha and Whippledaddy. Ya'll are champions of life and an example for us to follow when hard times knock at the door. I truly believe that hardship makes us grow, and strenghtens our soul. I wanted to respond to these posts several times but couldn't find the right words, but it left a real impact in my heart. Bless you all!

Well I hooked my anchor to my first fill taking care of my appetite, but I want to eat all the time. I read several posts about the restriction coming days after the fill, and I think I feel a little tighter today, but I go back an hour after my meal to get more! The first pounds after surgery just fell off, and I had no hunger to speak of. I was lulled into thinking the band would do it all for me, but I'm realizing I gotta get with the program here. Tomorrow I will make excellent choices and stay out of that damn refrigerator!

Hi LJ, I'm so glad everything went smoothly for ya'll. She is lucky to have you there with her. Best wishes as she begins her banded journey. Take care!

Wow Penni, What a difference. Keep up the good work. You are looking so much trimmer.

I hope you feel better soon. Try warm liquids, it might soothe your tummy.

Hey Lisa, I always say that marriage is like a roller coaster ride. Enjoy the thrills and hold on through the rough corners! When my husband always wants to feed me, I have to remind myself that they (men) associate food with love. Of course, he doesn't have a weight problem, and I think it's taken him a long time to realize that I struggle so much with food. When you said that Chris doesn't want to talk, I bet dozens of women reading that thread could relate! Even if you do "have the talk" most of the time it never does a lick of good. I had an amazing breakthrough recently. I was talking to my sister on the phone about something that I have been distressed over for years and could never resolve with my husband. Money! He has his and I have mine and the two never shall meet! I didn't realize that he was listening, and after I hung up with her, he told me that he never realized I felt that way before. Duh! I've only been saying it for 20 years! He had to hear it in the 3rd person for it to hit home. Men are from Mars!

Leatha, I hope your day is filled with joy. Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday, Hope this coming year brings you continued sucess in your weight loss goals. Sounds like you have the plan down, and your ducks in a row!

Kimber-lilly I hope you get approval, but if you don't , keep on plugging away until they say yes!

Thanks for the advice ya'll. I think he gave me a light fill, from what I've read, most of the bandsters get at least 1cc on first fill. I will probably call him this week and see what he recommends. I don't want to be too restricted, but I don't want to keep eating like I have for the past few days! I feel kinda psycho with the food, I know it's head hunger, and the band is letting me go. Makes me wonder if he missed the port alltogether! Can you feel anything other than the needlestick when you get adjusted? (like any sensation around the band) I don't recall feeling anything but the needle stick.

I just got a fill 2 days ago, .8cc, and I don't feel the least bit restricted. The doctor told me I could go back and get more in if I needed it, if I was hungry or able to eat too much. I AM eating too much! I am concerned about you guys saying that it got tighter a week later. What's up with that? Do you think I should wait? I paid $250. for the fill and I think if I wait too long he'll want to charge me again. What do ya'll think?