hagerteresa

Marie, It says right in the Jessie Ahroni book that heavier people tend to lose easier AT FIRST! I'm not beating the socks off of anybody, it is just coming off easier for now. I am just past the point that Penni and Lisa STARTED from so it should get a little slower now. Thanks for giving me so much credit but it isn't neccessary. LOL. I was a glutten all weekend so now I need to shape up for the next few days before weigh in. Good job Michelle on your weigh in. Teresa:) P.S. I had my jaws wired shut years ago. Its not a long term loss!

Garden Frittata, Ingredients: 1/2 cup onion chopped 2 pressed cloves of garlic 1 cup of one or more of: spinach, broccoli, zucchini or mushrooms finely chopped 1/2 t. thyme 1/2 t. basil 6 eggs 1 C. grated swiss cheese 1/2 C. grated parmesan 1 t. salt 1/4 t. pepper 1/2 C. Lite Sour Cream 1 C. milk dash of tabasco Preheat oven to 350 degrees, combine all ingredients reserving 1/2 the cheese. Sprinkle left over cheese on top just before baking. Bake in 9" pie pan for 50 minutes. Very yummy and easy to swallow. We make this a LOT at the B&B I work at. Another good easy to swallow recipe is Spinach Gnocchi: Ingredients: 2 10 oz. packages of frozen spinach (or 1 1/2 lb. fresh) get all moisture out!!! 4 T. Butter 3/4 C. Ricotta cheese (Lite) 2 eggs lightly beaten 6 T. flour 1/2 t. salt 3/4 C. Parmesan cheese 1/2 t. pepper 1. Melt butter in pan and add dried spinach, cook until almost dry, add Ricotta cheese and cook another 3-4 minutes. 2. Transfer to a bowl and add eggs, flour, 1/4 C. parmesan cheese and seasonings. Mix thoroughly and refrigerate until firm for one hour. 3. Bring Water and salt to a boil then reduce to simmer. Flour hands and roll into 1 T. balls. Drop gently into the water and simmer 5-8 minutes. They will become slightly puffed and firm. Remove to a towel to drain. Can be frozen for later at this point. I like to eat them just like they are but when we serve them we drizzle melted butter and more parmesan on top and broil 4 or 5 minutes.

Here are some requested before/after pictures of me. Not that I am anywhere close to goal yet though. Teresa

Hi Beth, There is a really good letter in the Insurance thread that Alex had written to her insurance company who also would cover the by-pass but not the band. She was able to eventually get them to cover the band. You should look for that letter in that threads archives. There is also a book written by Jessie H. Ahroni, about the lapband. Called Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding. I took a week off work after surgery. My surgery was in Mexico and has been very successful. Good luck on your research. Teresa Alex: I think we should make a sticky note on one of the main threads called publications and news releases. That way people don't have to search all over the forum to find references to books or articles. What do you think?

Weirdly enough, I was a mexico band patient and never had to do that test. Have other people not had this test? Teresa

Lisa, I'll be home at 5 pm all week. You can call me anytime. Do you still have my number? Teresa

Here is the Oregon Bandsters sight too: http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/OregonBandsters/

Hi Patti, I haven't need a fill yet but do know of several fill doctors in Oregon. I am going to use Tom Eubanks in Portland and I have heard he is excellent. There is a Dr. Tersigni in Coos Bay and I have heard a lot of negative things on him. There are fill docs up in Bend Oregon and I know of one in the klamath falls area. I live in the Eugene area but we own a small peice of property just a few minutes north of grants pass. That is a nice area down there in southern oregon. Gets HOT in the summer though. I'll try to find the list of names and phone numbers for those doctors. I know a lot of them charge something like $300-$400 (some w/ flouroscopy and some without) but I had a friend try Eubanks and she loved him and he got her port on the first try. He only charges $150 the first visit and $75 for all other visits without the flouroscopy. She was so happy with him, it made me feel more confident about using him for fills when I need them but I know he won't be as close to your area. Good luck and would love to meet you sometime. Teresa Dr. Lopez 5/8/04 362/299/???

Healthy Choice fudgcicle bars are the best I think. So nice to hear from you Andrea! I am so glad everything went well. Do take it a bit easy though. Teresa:) CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

Thank you Donali, You looked lovely! LOL. Its great hearing from you. Life gets entirely too busy and hectic. Your still my hero though. I still can't wait to meet you in Vegas. How is life going other than your front porch (which is looking good by the way)? Teresa;)

I don't eat ice cream... LOL. I do like my chocolate but do my best to keep it firmly limited. Teresa:)

Those are nice bikes!!! I love to admire Harley's but would be terrified to really ride one. There is a really cool biker bar in the town I live in (very small town) and it is one of my favorite places to go and eat. They have these huge booths and the best food and the bikers there are actually just wonderful people. I like to admire their bikes in the parking lot too. Thanks for sharing! Teresa

Kathy, I think you look great too. You can see a huge difference in your face!!! Thanks for sharing! Teresa

Yes Babs, Pat yourself on the back for that one! You did good. It is amazing how excited we get with our scales. I do the same thing. Stare at it in amazement and jump on and off again at least one or two more times consecutively. Anyway Congrats!!! Teresa

Hi All! I am finally chemistry free for the time being (provided I passed it) I had a descent B going into the final so I am praying it will be enough just to pass the darn class. I never do well on her exams. About this PB thing. I have a problem with it. It doesn't happen THAT frequently but I would say on average maybe once every week or two. It is NEVER from eating too much. For example last weekend I had some really yummy steak at my mom's house (weirdly enough I have never had a problem eating ANYTHING at moms house) but I took some leftovers home for lunch the next day. I cut it up in small bites and really made sure to chew BUT evidently it wasn't well enough chewed because I was very sick and PB'ing on that one. I couldn't even hold liquids down for a bit. I think the next day I tried the steak again and it worked fine. My only thought is maybe I don't pay enough attention to that first bite and it backs the whole system up. I think that is what happened in that steak incident. I think one piece was firmly wedged in my little hole. I had hardly eaten more than a few bites when the whole incident started. I hate it when it happens but I guess it does verify to me that I still do have some restriction. As far as stretching the pouch... I don't know? I don't know how flexible that area is or its elasticity. My meals are not as big as they ever were preband but I do have times when I eat more than other times. I hope I'm not stretching the area. Band abuse... HMMM, well I do smoke which a disgusting bad habit but I didn't have the time or the will power to quit before surgery. I am hoping the welbutrin will help that but who knows... I do allow one diet soda per week and I do allow my one daily candy bar. If I eat that treat too early in the day then I have to choose healthier snacks later on. I am proud to be under the 300 lb mark. I have really been focused on chemistry the last two months so I haven't been able to focus on healthy home made meals much lately. The last two weeks I haven't been able to do swimming either and now that pool is closed till Sept 20th for maintenance. I have been making sure to take more stairs but otherwise my excercise has been pretty nill. I can't wait to be able to do more of it next week. I have actually missed being able to walk the dogs and do yard work. I miss swimming a LOT too but will get back into that as soon as possible. Since I have yet to get a fill, I have not met my fill doctor in person yet, but I got good news last week. I had referred a couple of other people to him and one of them emailed me last week and said he was excellent. I actually can't wait to meet him! She was going to one doctor who charges something like $400 a fill and he missed her port a dozen times in once session. She went to this fellow in Portland and I guess he got it right on the very first try and she loved his personality. Best yet he only charges $150 the first visit and consultation and then $75 for all other fills. I am glad he worked out so well for her and it made me more confident about it when I do need one. I just think that since I keep steadily losing (it has slowed to about 1.5 lbs per week recently) and I still have to be careful about PB's I just don't think I need one yet. I track my calories and still average the same so ???? Maybe I had a big fat esophagus and it just happened to get cinched up real tight during surgery. I don't know. Anyway sorry this has rambled on but the prior posts brought up some personal revelations. Thanks for all the love, Teresa

C, That is part of the problem, Gail seems to be unable to eat much steak at all. I think she said she could only manage a 1/2 inch of it with a lot of pain. I agree though that people do have every right not to tell others, but I am glad I chose to share my experience with people around me. Best wishes, Teresa

Hello, Take slip on shoes, bending over will be painful for a few days. Getting off the toilet or off the bed is a bit challenging the first few days too but not impossible and not too painful because you will get pain medication. I have a busy physical job but was fine only taking one week off. I think sex might hold off for a week or two most certainly. You will be sore and tired for a few days but it isn't anything too horrible or untolerable. Make sure you have your house stocked with juice and Clear liquids too. You won't want to go shopping for a couple of days. I am 4.5 months post-op and haven't noticed any hair loss yet even after losing 63 lbs. I track all of my daily calories and nutrients on a free program at www.fitday.com. That site also tracks my Protein, fat and carbs. I know several people have experienced constipation once on solids but I have not. I never had any diahrea in the begining either. I am able to swallow pills but some of your biggest ones might need to be broken up. I don't recall taking any solid pills during the liquid phase though. I sure hope the best for you and keep in touch. Best wishes, Teresa

Hi Gail, It is very nice meeting you. Do you think you could have a little too much of a fill? You really should be able to eat solid foods comfortably. If you are overfilled you are causing more harm than good. Unlike Marie, I was VERY open about my surgery to everybody. I don't know or deal with people who would think less of me for having had the surgery. Everybody I know realizes I have dealt with major weight issues my entire life and it was getting to be too much. My family, friends and associates were mostly VERY concerned because I was having the procedure done in Mexico. I did months of research before I told anyone, but their skepticism and fears only made me do more research so I was able to alleviate their concerns. In the end there wasn't a question they asked that I couldn't answer or show them pictures of. I am glad I told because now I have a huge support team and they all are very excited for me. I have never felt 'less' because I told a lot of people either. Like Marie, I agree that if your weight was a serious issue then the surgery was not optional, whether those issues were mental or physical. Obviously if your doctor and insurance agreed that you needed the surgery, then it must have been neccessary. Are you on good terms with your boss otherwise? If so, maybe rather than tell your closest friend first maybe you should just go and have a private conversation with your boss about it. That gets that part out of the way. Then I might consider telling your friends. If they really love you, they could be a wonderful support team. As for the co-worker who isn't your friend, who cares? Let her think whatever she wants to. You are only a few months post-op so its not like you have been lying for years or anything. I would just tell them that you didn't want to be looked at any differently or with great expectations and that is why you didn't tell them immediately. I was certain the lap band would not work for me but I had great hopes that it might. Now 63 lbs lighter I am thrilled I had it done. I considered not telling people because I didn't want to be constantly scrutinized but honestly nobody has done that at all. I can eat whatever I want in front of whomever I want without judgement. Honestly though you really should be able to eat solid Protein comfortably. When was your last fill? Many people on this forum have kept their banding confidential (at least at first) and I can understand their fears and reasoning but like you are now discovering, it does get harder and harder to back out of lies. I sure wish you the best and I hope we get the chance to get to know you more on this forum. You are welcome anytime with any question. Best wishes, Teresa

Jemigirl, you really are doing fabulously!!! We are only supposed to lose an average of 1 to 2 lbs a week. According to your stats you have lost 5 lbs each week. Your doing great!!! Look at the positive aspects of it. Best wishes, Teresa

Those are beautiful pictures! Thanks for sharing! Teresa

Kimber-lilly, I can totally relate. I had a big hematoma too and about week 2 it decided to burst!!! Here I am making Breakfast at this big fancy Bed and breakfast taking care of guests and I look down and the front of my blouse looked like I had been shot. I hadn't even noticed it! I had no clue that would happen and didn't have time to go to the docs for a day or two. When my doc did finally see it he was THRILLED! Said it was an excellent sign that things would heal correctly and threw me on more antibiotics. I had hated the Mexico ones and had tossed them when I got home from Mexico so I was kind of relieved to get some improved tasting american antibiotics. I leaked for about 2 weeks and just kept it loosely bandaged. It sucked but it never really hurt. Just annoying... Best wishes and I know you'll feel much better soon. Teresa

Penni is it still cool if we stay at your house thursday night the 7th? Thanks a million! I'll email you my cell number too when I find it again. I guess this means I have to shave my legs and pits too...HMMM. Can't wait to meet everybody, Teresa

Hi Folks, Lisa your house will look spiffy. I love it when we get things really accomplished at our place. I get the depo shot and love it. I do attribute some of my weight gain over the years too it but it is so nice never having periods, and not having to remember to take a pill daily. I had an appointment with my family practitioner today and we decided I should try wellbutrin for a bit. We both think it is just the stress of this horrible class (which will be over with tomorrow) but it also might even out the moods. Doc said weight loss was very much like a PMS symptom. It might help me with my smoking too. Who knows... I also weighed and lost just under a pound and a half so exactly at 299.0 now (63 lbs lost). I need to be careful what I wish for. I so wanted to be under 300, but I didn't exactly mean by just one pound. LOL. Last week I was still over by .3 lbs! Talk about a major UGH! Anyway I got to go study, see you all tomorrow when I finally have a life again. Teresa

I wish I could relate. I do notice those small changes like you mentioned but I never FEEL lighter or feel like I have lost. Literally I have gone to weigh in and swore I gained only to find I lost several lbs. I never go in thinking I have lost. If I did feel that optimistic I might not dread getting on the darned thing every week and have a ritual list a mile long before getting on the scale. LOL, Your doing great! Teresa

Hi Babs! Congratulations on the loss!!! You described how your fill feels perfectly for me. I have not had a fill yet and keep losing. I know I could be tighter but already still have to be careful about PB's. I am able to eat a lot less than pre-band and still try to make wise food decisions. I figure as long as I keep steadily losing the way I am, than I am fine at my current lack of fill until I at the very least plateau for a few weeks. I can't wait to meet you in person in Vegas, Teresa