hagerteresa

Hi Brenda, Nice to meet you. Teresa

Vera, i'm not getting your conversation. I never got a pm from her either though she did email me the other day. I haven't had a chance to respond to it. Teresa

Congratulations!!! So glad to hear you made it thru the surgery okay. Good job losing those 6 lbs too!!! Take it easy for awhile, Teresa

Yes, I get them too. They crack me up sometimes.

Hey Trish, I'm glad your feeling better about everything this morning. Actually it wasn't until after I posted my reply that I realized you weren't even banded yet. Even when I was doing my research though, I wouldn't even consider the by-passes. I have heard of too many deaths and miserable experiences (though I have also heard many postive ones too). I was sure the band would not work for me and even with that initial feeling I was determined to have it done. My family are the people who were certain it would help me. After I was banded, the 300's just flew by. I had lost 68 lbs at the time of my first fill 6 months out. That is not always typical results but hopefully it all goes fast and smoothly for you too. I find it has definitely slowed now but I am still very happy with my results. The band doctor had said I lost 15 lbs since my first fill and my fill this last week which was about 2 months. He said that was absolutely perfect and right at the norm. Best wishes to you, Teresa

When I saw my band aftercare doctor the other day I was asking him what his percentage of patients were that got the band versus the bypasses (which he does also). He said it was about 30-40% bandings and the rest bypass. He said he wished that number would increase because he really does like the results from the band better. I thought that was very uplifting coming from a doctor who has done bypasses for many many years and has only done the band for a few, to like the band procedure and outcome more. I thought I would throw that in there. T

Hi Trish, Gosh, I don't know how to respond. I don't want to call your feelings silly or anything but honestly I weighed even more than you when I got my band and haven't regretted it for anything. I would have NEVER considered the by-pass of any kind. I am 30 and still want to have kids myself. I also get on obesityhelp.com but ussually stick to the Oregon group and nobody has ever said anything negative about the band on that group. I think a pregnancy with the band would be much safer than the bypass anyway. By-pass people have massive Vitamin deficiency's, they have large parts of their hacked off organs stuck inside them, etc. I have a local banded friend who is 7 months pregnant and she is doing wonderfully. Hasn't gained a pound at all. I am sorry you are having regrets. One thing to consider is the by-pass people only have a certain window of opportunity to lose weight. Once that is past, if they haven't lost all their weight they probably never will. I have also know many by-pass people who have gained all their weight back. The band has an infinite window of opportunity and hopefully will always be there to help us. You don't think we all get frustrated sometimes? I had a plateau from thanksgiving to new years... I was totally frustrated and bummed when I went to all the trouble to go weigh in every week and see the same damn numbers. I just tried to not let the plateau overwelm me. We go thru those naturally anyway but I also wanted to eat some of the holiday treats. I felt blessed I had stayed the same in the end. Anyway, I definitely feel for you and hope you can change your mindset. The band does work. Best wishes, Teresa

Oops I just saw your link for your web page. You'll have to put more pics of the cabin on there. Ours is a lot bigger and has a working kitchen and bathroom but it is in deplorable condition as far as repairs. We did a LOT of work down there last year but in reality we need to eventually tear the place down and put a new house or manufactured home on the property. We were given 3 beautiful acres sorrounded by BLM land. Our property has a pond and creek on it and a fenced horse pasture. My husband's uncles own adjoining properties so they help keep an eye on it for us. When we got it we had to throw out some horrible tenants who hadn't paid rent in months and they left $700 in garbage removal. The whole house and most of the property was waste deep in trash. Evidently they were burying it. Anyway your place is very cute. Show us some interior shots. Teresa

Hi Darcy, You are doing a wonderful job! So glad you made it to onderland! I want to see pics of your getaway cabin. We have one too. I can't wait to get back down there to take more pics of ours. I took a bunch last year but somehow we lost them all on the computer. We'll have to swap pics. Best wishes, Teresa

Hey Blossom, That is precisely why I don't own a scale. I find over the counter one's normally are unreliable. I weigh myself once a week on the doctor's scale. I reweigh myself 2 or 3 times in a row at the docs too. Ussually its in disbelief (one way or another) and I need to see it again. In chemistry class we always had to reweigh our samples 3 times and took the average to get the most accurate weight. Best wishes, Teresa

Okay, I know most of you know I was in a car accident last week. I don't know if this problem is related but it is driving me nuts. For about 2 days after the accident my port area really was very tender and sore. I don't think the seatbelt rubbed or pulled on it in the accident and thought maybe I had just slept on it wrong. Sometimes that happens. That pain has gone away but now I have a needle like pain in the same area anytime I bend over or lean. I thought it was initially coming from a scar further down because there was a little bump on it and a needle size sore on it but now I am pretty sure it really is coming more from the port region itself. My job takes LOTS of bending over so it has really bugged me. I don't want to pay for an appt with the fill/ aftercare doctor without getting a fill but don't know if this is something I should go to my primary with either. I will have an appt next week with my primary so maybe I'll bring it up then. I haven't mentioned this to the doctors I've seen before (for the accident related injuries) because I wasn't sure that it is accident related. What do you all think and what should I do. I don't see any redness in the area, no heat, nothing. Just sharp little needle type pains. Thanks, Teresa

Hi Marie, I am waiting on the medical parts. I want to be pain free for at least a few months before I sign off on anything. My company has treated me really good now but the other company stank. They haven't even made any offers on my medical and I had to settle the value of my car thru my own company. I was able to get double what the other company was offering. They offered $2300, I wanted $4300 and was able to get $4391 thru my own company after my deductable. I'm STILL waiting for the check to get here though. They had to pay the last $1600 on my old car off and that has already been taken care of. I hope metlife treats their own customers better than they treat victims hit by their drivers. I have never dealt with such a rude insulting person as their total loss guy. Anyway Marie, yes I am waiting on the medical parts. I have been to the doctor umpteen times over this and will go back as long as I need to. Best wishes, Teresa

I know this is off the banding subject but my car has been totalled and I'm stuck looking for a dependable vehicle at a reasonable cost. I am going to go look at 2 Ford Taurus's (2000 and a 2001) today. I used to own an 89 Taurus and it lasted forever but occassionally had some minor but expensive problems. The newer ones sound very nice but wanted to get some opinions. People seem to love or hate them and there does seem to be some lemon ones out there. I personally loved my 94 nissan sentra and planned on having it at least a few more years. It seems like anything quality like Honda's, Toyota's or Subaru's either have a ton of miles on them or are out of my price range. Please give me some feedback.... I was hoping to get my mechanic to look at anything I decide on but he has a personal vandetta against fords and I would feel funny having him look at one. My husband has had a 99 ford pick up for a few years and hasn't had any problems... Anyway thanks for your advice. Teresa

Hi Tanya, Glad you found something too. I know what you mean on the gas thing. I had a 4 cyl. before too and it got about 30-32 mpg and about 300 miles to a tank. The new car is a 6 cyl. and with normal driving seems to get about 22 mpg and also about 300 miles to a tank but its a slightly bigger tank. Yesterday on my Portland trip it seemed to actually get a lot better mileage since it was all freeway. I only used about a 1/2 tank to go over 200 miles. I made the mistake of buying a brand car once when I was 18. I had gotten a Geo Metro. Ugh!!! Many years of payments and 3 engines and 3 transmissions later I decided new cars weren't worth it. I know... It was a geo... but since cars lose their value so quickly I always feel like I am getting a better deal buying when its a few years old. That car I just got sold for almost 20k 4 years ago and I was able to get it for $4900 now. It looks and drives brand new so I was pretty happy. Anyway glad you found something and your daughter is okay, Teresa

Hey Marie, I gave a long update on the Sore Port thread. For the most part I'm fine but still have some neck pain and headaches. I am still getting massage therapy which is nice but I tried to lay off the pain killers and muscle relaxers a couple of weeks ago and had a massive flare up that lasted several days. It is all pretty tolerable but I still don't feel 100% either. Thanks for checking. I'm glad I am happy with the new car too. I tend to stay really happy with vehicles as long as they stay dependable. My part of the bargain is to keep up on the maintenance. Hopefully this one has a long life. I ended up buying the one that was a year newer than the other one offered and it didn't come with the automatic seats and a few of the other features but I was glad. This one already has enough power features for me. I was just imagining what would happen if the auto seats (adjusts at the push of a button) went out... What on earth would you do!?! I am glad I made the choice I did. Anyway I'll have to send you a nice long chatty pm soon. Best wishes, Teresa

Thanks everybody, It's probable that the accident caused the port movement but the doctor thought it would be hard to prove. My PIP portion of my auto insurance is paying all my medical bills at this time and agreed to let me go to the band specialist. I am glad he'll use flouro everytime too, that first uncooperative blind fill in his office was a nightmare. My port area really doesn't hurt anymore and hasn't for awhile but I have felt a difference in the port area. I used to never be able to lay on my stomach for long and since the accident I can for much longer periods. My port was already tipped upright so when it moved it actually tipped back and to the side a little more. I am still getting therapy for my neck too. I was prescribed 8 sessions of massage therapy (NICE) and am still taking vicodin and flexeril. I had stopped the pills altogether a couple of weeks ago and had a massive flare up (couldn't move my head much) for several days. At the same time I had injured my eye for 3 days and got a bad cold (caused huge increase in restriction too). That was a terrible week. LOL... It is much better this week. I am also still getting really bad headaches once or twice a week. They go away fairly easily if I catch them early but if I accidently wait they get hard to get rid of. Anyway, I can't wait till all this accident crap ends. I finally settled on my car last week and got exactly what I wanted. What a relief that was!!! I'm still waiting on the darned check though. Anyway thanks for all the support, Teresa

Congratulations!!! Hope everything works out for you smoothly. Some surprises are truly good surprises, Teresa

I thought I would update everyone on my new car. I absolutely LOVE it accept for the poorer gas mileage. Otherwise it rides and drives like a dream. I drove it the longest today having to drive 2 hours each direction to see my band doctor and it went very smoothly. I also had an oil change done on it recently and got the history of oil change maintenace on it because I took it to the same company the prior people had. All of their little inspections came out great and the old owners had all of the little extra's done when they had serviced it. Anyway so far I am a happy camper with it. Did I mention how much I love it? LOL... Teresa

Okay... I know this has taken awhile but I finally got my port checked out by the band doctor today. It got rotated one direction 3 degrees and rotated another direction 15 degrees. Nothing too serious and doctor isn't even considering port revision surgery but it will make fills more difficult. Doctor says he'll only use flouro at this point. That is fine by me and hopefully my medical insurance will pick up the extra cost, at least they said they would a few weeks ago if it is submitted worded correctly (without the word obesity attached to it). The doctor decided to do a small fill today too. He was able to pull out .8 cc from the initial 1 cc he had origonally gave me and he added .4 cc to that totalling 1.2 cc's. I haven't tested it too much and stuck with liquids and soups at this point but wanted to update everyone on the port situation. Thanks, Teresa

Hello everybody, I had my surgery in Mexico. It wasn't a great experience but I have been problem free too. I was smart enough to find a wonderful fill doctor within a couple hours of my home BEFORE I had surgery who accepted Mexico patients and has reasonable prices but I didn't even think of getting my medical records while I was down there. It took 6 months to finally get them thanks to the help of Diane Beck. AND they came in English. The only thing I am pissed that I didn't do was get my serial number for my band. Otherwise my overall Mexico surgical experience has been VERY positive. It did seem a little sketchy and stressful when I was there for the surgery but I have no complaints since the surgery. Definitely do your research and find a local doctor before going south for the band. Teresa

Hey Joan, Sorry you had to deal with such ignorance. Hopefully it all gets straightened out and you get to keep this surgery date. Best wishes, Teresa

Hi Vera, Glad your getting taken care of. Best wishes to you on your trip and band repair. Hopefully it all ends up being minor. Teresa XOXO

I was emailed this message regarding a couple of emails on a lapband yahoo board. Thought some of you might be interested... Welcome to a world free of AnnMarie. I know first hand about the unmentionable circumstances. People on these boards will have a field day with your post though. Anita kristie <krizzygirl2002@yahoo.com> wrote: I was a patient coordinator working with belighter. Due to unmentionable circumstances I am no longer affiliated with this company. Thank you Kristie Rivington Here is my response to the situation: That is very interesting to hear this from you, Anita and Kristie. As far as I am concerned belighter is nothing but a con-artist ploy. It is so nice and sweet of Ann Marie to help us poor obese people connect to Mexico doctors and offer us around the clock lifetime support but at a nice profit for her and her company. I know MANY people who are very angry at the lack of correspondence and concern from belighter once they have had surgery. It was a big THANKS FOR NOTHING. It is not difficult for prospective patients to find the contact information for individual surgeons directly without paying belighter anything. Glad you all finally saw the light but it won't help put extra money spent back in the pockets of victims. Teresa

There are dozens of references to hunger during this phase in past posts including one in the the "sticky tabs" section at the top of one of the threads. Hunger and possible weight gains are totally possible during the pre-fill stage. Best of luck, Teresa

I LOVE my Kodak easyshare 5 mega pixel camera. It is extremely easy to operate and I take a ton more pictures with it than I did my old film camera. They are also priced VERY reasonable. They are right around $200 and I thought that was great for the quality of pictures, the ease of use and the number of megapixels. Teresa