hagerteresa

I totally agree Pat!!! I think we all love this sight and pride ourselves about having a family type atmosphere. Best wishes to you, Teresa

Hi Jennifer, Nice to meet you and glad we can be so inspiring. I too love and depend on this forum. Best wishes, Teresa

I watched it and thought it was interesting. I emailed them at msnbc immediately afterwards and recommended they do a segment on the band. I tried to be interesting and informative so who knows if I'll even get a response... Teresa

Great Idea!!!! I think we should do the same with publications regarding the lapband. Have a lapband library sticky and list the books and authors, etc. Maybe info in medical journals in regards to the band would be good too. Teresa

Are teachers required to have Master's degrees up there for middle and high school grades? I just finished my bachelor's in science and math and am doing in-class volunteering with 6th grade math and science classes but am dreading having to go back for my Master's. I'm sick of school!!!! If you see Delarla's name on any of the threads you should send her a private message and ask her about her experience and symtoms of Sarc. I think she has mainly had healing problems in regards to it though. If I ever make it up there, I'll definitely take you up as a tour guide. I live in Oregon so the same holds true on this end if you ever visit. Teresa

Hi Lisa and Michelle, We finally get a weekend without the roommates cute adorable child so I think we are going to relax. We love having her but every weekend gets exhausting. She was SOOO cute for Halloween though. I have to work at the bed and Breakfast tomorrow but get sunday off. Hope you both have a good weekend, Teresa

My appt. is Monday the 8th funny enough. Do you know what time it is? I think my mom may ride with me so not sure how late we'll stay up there. My appt. is at 2:30 pm. What do they charge for a check-up? Teresa

I think it is Lisa (Delarla) that also has Sarcoidosis. She has had a hard time healing from her port wound but otherwise I think she has done well with the band. Welcome!!! It is nice to meet you. I am going to school to be a teacher and always thought about teaching in Alaska. I have always wanted to visit. Best wishes, Teresa

Welcome!!! Nice to meet you! Teresa

In Oregon I know it ranges from $12k to $20k. Dr. Eubanks at Portland Surgical Specialists does it for $12k and I have heard great things about him. I don't know where you live but thought I would throw the numbers out there. Teresa P.S. My insurance wouldn't pay and I did go to Mexico and I am very happy with my results. I was freaked a little but did a lot of research and saw pics of the facility on the internet. Best wishes!

Dang Greg, I just notice you have lost 68 lbs just since the end of July!!!! I got banded in May and am down 69 lbs and I thought that was good! I was stuck at 68 lbs lost for the last month. Hope you get past it faster... LOL. Teresa

Well, the scale finally budged a bit. I lost a 1 lb hunk of lard this week. I was pretty amazed really considering the scale hadn't moved in so long. I hadn't done anything differently last week and in fact missed two of my water aerobic sessions. I had company last thursday and I was still recovering from a cold on tuesday. I am on my way to the pool now though. Best wishes to all of you, Teresa

Congratulations!!!! That is really cool that it is finally happening for you! Teresa

What a bummer Penni... I am very sorry for all your recent losses. Teresa

Hi Greg, Thanks for the kind words. Yes, I will have to post more consistently in here again. My losses were just going so smoothly for so long but since vacation I swear my daily calorie intake has gone up 30% and its enough to stop the nice consistent losses. I still feel restricted a lot of times but all evening it seems to go away. Best of luck to you as well. Lisa, Have you figured out if your insurance would cover the port replacement if you went to someone in the U.S.???? Its not fair you and Penni live so close to each other... Everyone else: May you all have good and proper band weeks and may the scale show the efforts made... Teresa

Hey Ryan, Take care of yourself and make the best of a lame situation. I definitely will send kind thoughts from now up thru surgery. Teresa

Hi Kathy, I think it is something about losing weight and the band getting looser. I have heard that some of the fluid may dissipate in some patients as well. I don't really know so I'll be interested to hear from others too. Teresa

Kathy, What are you going in on Nov. 22nd for? Just a check up? Glad to hear things are going good. Teresa

I'm with you Penni. There website does have a lot of useful information and that was one of the first places I even heard about the lapband but using their services is totally unneccessary. Teresa

Hello, I have not personally heard anything good about Dr. Tersigne. Another girl who lives in my area went to him and after using something like a metal (port) detector to find her port he stabbed her 27 times. She now thinks that she may have a leak. I had another friend who had a bypass done by him and it all went awful. She had to have the entire surgery redone within 48 hours. He has made some rude comments to her and I have heard he is not very personable. I have heard of another person who likes him so ????? I know convenience is definitely a factor for fills. You might at least go meet him but I wouldn't let him stab around blindly. Best of luck, Teresa

Hi Scott, I talked to the local girl who had the severe swelling problem and they had to do steroid shots to get it to go down. As I mentioned before, she couldn't even swallow her own spit for 4 days and then had to go to a local hospital. They wanted to remove the band but she wouldn't let them. After 4 days of being in the hospital someone finally got the bright idea to call a band specialist in Portland and she reccommended the steroid shots. It worked like a charm. Best wishes and hope it all gets resolved, Teresa

It is nice to meet you! I am 30 years old and had my band done almost 6 months ago. I am glad you found a way to get your insurance to cover it. I had to do a self pay in Mexico but am overall very happy with my band. I was initially TERRIFIED of surgery, recuperation and fills but it really never was TOO awful. Surgery was quick and I don't remember a thing, I recuperated quickly and was back to my housekeeping job the following week. I go in for my first fill this next week and though I was nervous, I have heard so many good things about the doctor I am going to use for fills that I am more excited to meet him now than anything. Best wishes, Teresa

Welcome, Welcome, Welcome!!!! Nice to meet you!!!

Hi Scott, Where was your surgery? There is a girl who lives locally that had the same problem. She had her surgery in Mexico by Dr. Lopez. She left the hospital and couldn't even swallow her own spit. She flew home and had to be admitted to a local hospital for treatment. I think they ended up referring to another local surgeon for advice and her swelling did go away. She is now about 100 lbs lighter and doing great. I will email her and see if she remembers what they used to get the swelling down. Teresa

I too have an addiction... It is chocolate... Its official, I'm a chocoholic. At least Michelle tries not to have it. I actually have the bad sense to allow it. I can normally be happy with my one small daily allowance but every once in awhile it almost sends me into a choco frenzy and I turn into a berserk over it. I am getting a fill next monday and I am hoping it will help nip some bad snacking habits in the butt. I am a great bandster till about 6 pm and then its a free for all. Thanks Alex for inspiring me to fess up. Teresa