hagerteresa

Tina, Welcome!!! I hope it works out with your insurance company and the band. I had mine done this past May and absolutely love it. It is very nice to meet you. Teresa

Hi Steve, I'm very surprised your doctor did a fill on you so soon after being able to eat solids. I was actually a little scared of solids and took it real slow the initial first couple of weeks. I had already experienced an unpleasent near PB experience before then so I really didn't want to take any chances. When I eat a successful meal I'll take a few initial bites chewed well and a little slowly. I'll pause for a few minutes after that and see how it is reacting. Most of the time that goes smoothly. I'll then go on to finish my meal slowly and well chewed stopping and taking a break if I get any kind of unpleasant twinge. You will get better at reading your band thru experience. I can pretty much eat anything if I work at it properly. I find mixing meals like mashed potatos and meat can be a bit dangerous... If you take a bite of meat and then the potatos it all kind of goes down like a rock. Fills times are also supposed to be based upon when you feel ready for them... I didn't get my first one till 6 months out because I was still losing and feeling satiated from my meals. It sounded like you were still losing and experiencing restriction before your fill. Best of luck to you, Teresa P.S. When I PB now it is ussually just only enough to get the offensive peice out. It is painless and over quickly. I also find that it can take several minutes before you realize you might not have chewed a bite well enough. If I have had a good portion of my meal and just happened not to chew one of the last bites well enough it takes a few minutes before it hits the opening and causes a reaction.

Alpaca sounds lovely too! They are the cutest little creatures as well. I would love to own one someday. Good luck to both of us learning the art of knitting. Teresa

That is a great NSV whipple. Made me smile. We got the giant 5 gallon water bottles which are heavy too and they always remind me how much I have lost when I have to carry it in. Your doing great! Teresa

That is neat you knit for charity. My church does a home-made scarf/hat drive and I kept hoping to get something made for it. I can totally relate about the time/cost issue. I made a bunch of hats for people on the forum but pretty much just asked for the cost of the yarn and shipping. Eugene is full of organic home-made hippy type people so our saturday market and holiday market crowd do really well on selling their home-made gifts. I know I prefer things home-made myself and ussually have to pay a pretty penny for it. Its nice to have friends to make you things as gifts too though. I work for a lady who is very multi-talented and she frequently makes me something really nifty. Last year it was an adorable little russian looking hat and this year it is a matching cloak. Yarn definitely can get costly. I am hoping to learn how to knit after the holidays. Teresa

Poor Patty, That is awful that you can't have salad. It is so weird how everyone is so different about what they can tolerate. I can eat the biggest salads when I put my mind to it. My problem is I love the dressing a little too much. I have had to make compromises about it. I know others who can't have salads though. I definitely don't do buns. I actually feel happy and lucky about that though. I have an excuse to eat JUST the yummy things in sandwiches and burgers. LOL... Best wishes, Teresa

Hi Theresa, Congrats on your safe banding experience. So glad your home safe and sound. Hope you have a wonderful holiday, Teresa

My mom's birthday is 3 days before Christmas so I called my friends mom who weaves and bought a scarf from her. She has the neatest looms and raises Angora bunnies which she brushes and weaves the fur into the most luxurious yarns. AHHH, so soft and heavenly. I think the scarf I got my mom is silk though. Pricey little suckers though... I can't blame her for the cost though since I know they take her awhile. Have a good holiday everybody, Teresa

Hi Paula, Its nice to meet you. Glad you find this site. Congratulations on your banding success. Teresa

Hi Darcey, Congratulations on your approaching band date!!! I am glad you found this website. We will become invaluable to you and you will make life-long friends here. Like Lisa, I had my surgery in Mexico by Dr. Lopez. I don't have a regret in the world and haven't had any complications of any kind. I think you'll be happy with your choice as well. Definitely have the fill doctor arranged ahead of time though. That cannot be emphasized enough. Otherwise take slippers and a magazine with you, have all your liquids purchased before you leave and we all send you our best wishes, Teresa

Patty, Thank you for taking the time to introduce yourself. This board lacks a high number of members who have had their bands 2+ years so it is nice to hear from long-term bandsters. I think you have done a wonderful job. Have a great holiday, Teresa

Hi All, FINALLY!!! I lost 2.2 lbs this week after the last two weeks of nothing. I'll take it and be happy about it. Thanks for everyones support. Teresa

Audrey, You inspire us all. I love your pictures too. What an amazing journey you have had! Thanks for sharing, Teresa

Congratulations Phyllis!!! Your SO close! I'll be thinking about you! Make sure you take slippers to the hospital with you. You'll appreciate it. Best wishes and good luck, Teresa

I can totally relate to you about the hair issue. I have fine hair myself. It has never been very thick but it seems down right thin these days. I just try to get my protein in. I hear that it does eventually stop falling out but hopefully that happens BEFORE I'm bald. LOL... If you find a magic cure let me know and I'll do the same. Teresa

Hi Laurie, How about sending hubby and kids out for a cheap evening (or just kids) and watching the most girlie romantic movie possible and take a hot bubble bath by candle light. I'll think of some other ideas... Teresa

Hi Theresa Marie, I was scared to death the day of my surgery. Your nervousness is completely normal BUT you will do fine and we are all rooting for you! I can't wait to welcome you to bandland!!! Teresa

It is normal for us to be hungry during the liquid stage and many are hungry till their first fill. Rather than going straight to solids you should have just tried going to some kind of thick protein shake or mushy food. This time is really meant for healing. I don't know what the chances are of causing damage from not following the initial instructions are. If the nurse didn't seemed too concerned about it your probably fine but you are going to have to follow some of the other bandster rules for you to be successful. The most important include no drinking after meals for an hour, making sure you do get enough water in, making solid protein the biggest part of your diet, etc. You probably WON'T have any restriction until your first fill from what you describe. I know for myself I was starving thru liquids but things improved as I moved to mushys and eventually solids. I did feel restriction and had to be careful chewing and eating slow enough. I remember I had tried a drink of yummy cream soup just before the end of my week of liquids and I was sliming and felt that golf ball feeling for hours. Anyway I would just make sure your first fill is done with flouro so they can make sure everything is in the correct places still. Best of luck, Teresa

Here is a link to a midband website. It says you can fill out this form to get info on doctors. Don't know if it will help but best of luck, Teresa http://www.gastricbandservice.co.uk/contact_us.html

What about any doctors in Canada???

Congrats Jen!!! Thanks for letting us know how it went and glad your well on your way to recovery! Welcome to bandland!!! Teresa

Hi Audrey, Congratulations on your progress towards banding. That is interesting about their take on soda. I hadn't heard it broken down into a time contraint way before. Yes, I am sure there are many people out there without good support and I feel bad for them. I think most people would benefit tremendously from being a part of a group like this one. A friend of mine knows somebody who had the by-pass. I guess this girl had a lot of slim friends and as she has tried to lose weight she has become a social threat to her friends. Many of them try to sabotage her progress or have quit being friends all together. My friend was comparing my experience in regards to WLS and friendships. She knows about the forum and my having actually gained tons of friends during my weight loss progress. I remember losing the link to this forum once when we lost our list of "favorites" and I was in a panic searching the net for this place. I finally found Donali on one of the yahoo groups and she sent me the link again. Best wishes Audrey and enjoy you Christmas dinner. Teresa

Oh my gosh you guys are all so sweet!!! Thanks Leatha and everybody for your nice words and support!!! I love this forum and group of people. You have all definitely become like family to me. I am proud of how well I have done so far but I just cringe when I go all the way down to the doctors and the scale isn't budging. Its funny because when I have a good loss I am in disbelief and re-weigh myself a few times just to make sure I am seeing the right numbers, when I don't have any loss I do the same thing just to make sure the scale isn't stuck... Despite the plateau weeks I am very happy with the whole band process. It just seems like the first 4 or 5 months I was able to eat things like fries or the insides of a double cheeseburger, etc and still lose weight. Now it seems like even when I am eating VERY mindful I am struggling to go down. I know the body naturally plateaus too so I'm hoping that is what I am struggling against. If thats the case it will end sooner or later. Thanks again all of you for your wonderful never-ending support. Your all the best and I'm proud of all of you. Teresa

Hello, I was going to say the same thing Michelle said. I was a Mexico patient too and am very happy. The hospital I was in was really comfortable, professional and clean. The price ranges from $7000 to $10,000 depending on the doctor. Best of luck to you, Teresa

Yeah, that is one reason I like that pattern. The brim does make it very versatile. It can be an ear warmer or just look nice. I made a bit of a boo-boo today. I worked at the b&b today (Roberta- the owner is the real crafty person and taught me how to make the hats) and noticed the most beautiful yarn garment today in her room (where I do the ironing, etc) I was looking at it and touching it trying to figure out what it was and Roberta comes in and is just appalled... Ends up it is a shawl she made me for Christmas to match the knitted hat she made me last year!!! It was just sitting out and she KNEW I was up there ironing. She just thought I wouldn't notice it. Of course I always love to look at her newest creations. I don't know what she was thinking. Oh-well... She wasn't mad about it but it was hilarious. I won't take it until Christmas but I can't wait to try it with my hat. The hat she made me reminds me of the russian type of hats. They are the most beautiful dark blues. I'll have to take a pic of the set when I get it at Christmas....LOL.. I wish I knew how to knit. She said she would give me lessons after the holiday. Anyway thought it was kind of funny. She really is the sweetest/ most giving person to work for. I was married at their place, she had my graduation party for me, etc. They are more like a second set of parents to me. Best wishes, Teresa