JosieK

hi sunshine, i know the BFL program and did very well on it at one time. of course i ended up falling off the wagon. but since i have my handy little "band" it is keeping me honest and on course i would like to join this challenge. the workout is efficient which i like. are you going to officially join? how are you going to structure it for our group? do we check in daily with how we are doing? will it be on this thread? or a new one. i will start 4/23 with you. this is "just what the doctor ordered" last week i asked my doctor if i could start spinning (which i love) and weights and he said "why not?" so.... thanks for starting this challenge

hi aimee, i am recently banded and would definitely do it again. i worried alot after reading alot about the surgery on the various websites and i must tell you...everyone's experience is different. i did get alot of good info (like the preop list of things to prepare) but i didnt experience everything everyone else did. i experienced some things....but it wasnt bad at all. immediately after the operation....i definitely needed help with my dogs for 2 days. after that....i was back on my feet altho' i was tired. walking helped to overcome that. regarding the emotional....for now...i'm just not hungry. but i do know i will have to deal with the emotional eating. i belong to a 12 step program for another issue i had...so that will help with the emotional... food was my first addiction and it is the last one going down anyway good luck in your search

hi, i go into houston for my banding (dr spivak). i'm not sure what fluro is... i did see on the lapband.com official website a doctor closer to katy. but i didnt investigate him. i havent been filled yet since i just got the band 1 1/2 weeks ago. let me know how you make out

hi marchies, i wanted to check in..... i finally am starting to feel like myself. i definitely pushing myself to walk, walk, walk...has helped me to regain stamina. i am having a problem when i eat. my left arm starts to kill me. i know about referral pain and gas pains but this only happens when i eat something thats not "soupy". last night i was crying. so i'm eating mushy again... i'm going to see my dr on thursday. i also have lots of questions about exercising, etc. so anyway....i will let you know what he says....

hi i tried this yesterday and i dont think it works either. it says to hit the "save" button but there isnt one. when i hit the small box under buddy list...it merely resets the screen to be empty.

hi healthny, i totally identify with your thoughts and fears. 5 years ago i investigated lap band. in fact i lived in NYC at the time and went to Dr christine ren's seminar. i had the same thoughts you described. "i should be able to do this on my own", "why have a foreign body inside me?" etc. i even didnt like the idea that steak could potentially be a food i wouldnt be able to eat when banded.....i dont even like steak! in the past 5 years i've gained and lost 100's of lbs and am not better off then in 2002. in fact the doctor has said gaining and losing puts tremendous strain on the heart fast forward 5 years.....i recently got the band....and am very happy i did it. as everyone has so elequently said...it is a tool and not a "magic bullet" the other thing that helped me....they told me the band is actually the same material they use in hip replacements. so when i was "grossed out" by a foreign body in me....this made me feel better. if i needed a hip replacement..i wouldnt question what they used... i have to say i was lucky because this time i went to the seminar on wednesday and was operated on friday. so i didnt have too much time to think. but 5 years in the making good luck in whatever you decide

hi medge, i had a similar pain. my doctor said it wasn't gas. it was something called "referred pain". this is when they touch a nerve during the operation possibly in the stomach area....and it can be felt somewhere else where the nerve is connected but not necessarily in the stomach area. it is similar to what happens when someone having a heart attack feels pain in their left arm. liquid tylenol helped me with this. mine also travelled to my hands becoming numb. he said it can last a few days to a couple of weeks. anyway hope you feel better

big thunder, last wednesday before my surgery i was walking down the aisles of target (laughing to myself :heh: ) saying "goodbye peeps" "goodbye swedish fish" i did the same thing the day before my surgery (i wasnt on any preop diet) the only thing they told me was "no meat" 1 week later...i'm fine. i secretly will tell you i was nervous the doctor would "see this" when he operated....but no mention. good luck

Afrykanvyolet i use EAS 100% whey protein shake blended with water+ice stats 120 cals 23 gms protein 3 gms carbs 2 gms fat i like chocolate and vanilla.

hi everyone, i just wanted to check in. i am 6 days post-op and i am doing really fine. i am on mushie food. in the beginning of the week i wasnt eating enough and was very shaky. my Drs. nurse called to check in and put me on the right path. i am feeling really lucky that i did this so quickly (altho' i have investigated on and off since 2002.) i went to the seminar last wednesday and was operated on friday (no preop diet, post op only 2 days on liquids) otherwise if i think too much.....not a good idea. also i think if i was on liquids longer i wouldnt feel as well as i do (note: this is just my drs directive....not for everyone) i did too much yesterday. walked 1 hour and felt shaky half of the day. but the people i see on this website that seem to have most success are the ones that are trying to follow the plan from walking/exercising to food plan, drinking water, etc. this thread does have some of the most positive "banders" :clap2: i'm glad i made march i have 2 issues to work on: 1. weighing myself. the scale becomes a GOD to me if i do this too much. so today i am trying not to weigh myself. 2. not paying attention when i eat :hungry: (either watch tv, talk on phone, etc). besides eating too big of a bite and food not feeling great going down.... i need to realize what i'm eating. a very long time ago i was in rehab for eating disorder and a BIG suggestion they had was to be totally present to your meal. enjoying the taste, recognizing what you were eating. half the time i never realize what i was eating... anyway hope everyone has a great day thks

congratulations sophie on hitting "onederland" ...i think i would cry when that happens i'm very happy for you

hi jeff, i was banded just this past friday 3/30. one thing.....everyone' experience is different. i found many things i read on this website to be very helpful and some things didnt happen. so dont get scared. i was deathly afraid of gas pains and didnt get them. i didnt even think about nausea and was on all 4's at 1:00 am the night i had operation. however as soon as i took tums...it was all right i suggest following the pre-op lists on this web under "pre and post operations thread". they were very helpful in addition to what people said before me...i needed : liquid tylenol Tums (my nausea was horrible the first day) liquid Vitamins thermometer also a pillow and blanket for the ride home was great. i also brought loose clothes to come home in. 2 things i didnt have but wish i did were: ginger tea for the nausea heating pad for left shoulder pain (but tylenol helped this) anyway if you get nervous...just think about all the positive people that have had this before us.....that's what calmed me down keep us posted

hi everyone, i just found this thread. i wish i saw it before but i can say "ditto" to everything you guys are saying i went to dr spivak's seminar last wednesday (based on someone suggesting him on this website) and i had surgery on friday. no preop tests. (besides overweight ...i have high blood pressure) i went to another company's seminar the week before...they wanted me to see cardiologist, etc. maybe to cover their butts since i am basically healthy beyond the 2 points i mentioned above wow...what an experience with spivak and his staff....and you guys are right...the surgery is a very individual experience. the day of the surgery...the people at park plaza were GREAT. i also had dr jistol as the anesthesiologist...that went great dr spivak was so reassuring....and the nurses endorsing him as the best didnt hurt either. the preop lists on this website really helped. it gave a list of things to get in before surgery. i was 3rd to be operated on. i got there at 6:30 and was out by 2:00 my biggest issue right after surgery was nausea. it was bad. i used tums and that helped it. i should've had ginger in the house but didnt. now i am having a little pain in my left shoulder but liquid tylenol is helping that. dr spivak explained that it is "referred pain" not gas. i am following his instructions to the letter of the law. breathing exercises, drinking Water, etc ....i walked my dogs for 1 hr today and am doing fine. heather...thanks so much for talking about exercise. i got scared right before surgery when people said they werent losing.....you definitely are a power of example. i dont think i could have worked yesterday or today but i could go in tomorrow if it were a desk job. anyway i'm glad to find you guys. there are so many doctors and opinions it's great we are under the same "spivak" pyramid to bounce things off.

hi everyone well i am jumping off the high diving board. this has been whirlwind.... well not completely. i started investigating lapband 5 years ago when i lived in ny and decided against it. 5 years later, many diets later and still at the same weight (248 lbs)...my brother suggested i think about lap band again after seeing a special on the health channel. well after getting great advise from you guys on this website...i went to dr. spivak's seminar tonight and am having surgery friday. (i'm self pay) so i'm excited and scared. my sister in law (an RN) came with me and is already telling me i have to get up immediately and walk (ughhhh-ha!) anyway i was going to join the april 2007 bandsters but i guess i'm in march bandsters. anyway i will keep you posted joanne

hi everyone just got home from surgery.:clap2: i did well with it but i'm having trouble getting comfortable i'm also nauseous. but....these are small things. anyway i will check in tomorrow

thanks tammy for starting us up on this thread. today i feel much, much better. the only issue i have now is "referral pain" in my left shoulder but tylenol has helped that. i feel really lucky (no gas, no pain in incisions) but i've been following the doctor's orders to the letter of the law. also my sister-in-law is an RN and i call her nurse ratchett. :confused: she is getting me up walking, breathing exercises etc. anyway i'm glad to be a marchie.

hi everyone, i had my surgery yesterday. i'm doing pretty well today. yesterday was filled with alot of nausea amd pain in left shoulder. but everything else was fine. today i'm in better shape but sleeping alot. its raining here today so a good day to sleep. anyway i just wanted to say hi to all of you as we are in the same month

hi everyone, my sister in law mentioned the ginger but it was late last night. i am going to get some. at 1:00 am this morning when i had dry heaves i took 2 tums....and it helped. but i think the ginger would have been a better idea. tallgirl:i was in room 514 and had my surgery at 9:00 am. laura: i did not hear about that test. actually what i loved about dr spivak...he didnt overdo testing. in fact i went to his seminar on wednesday...he saw i was healthy from what i said...and he did the surgery friday. no preop diet, etc. another place i went to wanted me to go to a cardiologist, etc. even though i was healthy and had annual tests from mayo clinic to prove it. i know everyone is different and i would be happy to do tests...if they are necessary. libra: i'm drinking and drinking...thanks for advice :nervous anyway i'm glad about thise site. the lists they have for pre op prep and post op prep were very helpful (ie. liquid tylenol, etc)

cyndi, to add to what shineone said..i just had surgery with spivak yesterday he was part of the FDA trials in texas (the only one) and the first to perform here. he has taught many of the surgeon's in texas. he is very scientific ....re: your MS where are you located?

hi foodstampchamp...what does "have restriction" mean? i'm new to all of this thanks ahead of time

hi everyone, thanks for the well wishes. my only problem was the nauseousness and i must tell you...it was bad. but this isnt due to the lapband. i always have this reaction to anesthesia libra...were you nauseous. if so...what did you do? everything else is fine. shineon...where are you having spivak's surgery? i had it at park plaza medical center and when i tell you i couldnt have been taken better care of. and they were so nice to my sister in law. i am originally from NY where some of the hospitals are "less then nice" so this was an additional benefit. also to make you even more comfortable...a couple of the nurses had this operation and they used spivak. they said he was the best and very scientific. so today i feel MUCH better. i am drinking tons and also doing the breathing exercise. thanks again... one last thing...i should have weaned myself off coffee before the operation. i had a little caffeine headache...so these are small, small issues...

hi mannamay, i am from Katy, TX and am having my surgery tomorrow. i identify with alot of the things you are saying...about buying clothes in normal shops. anyway i'm having my surgery with dr spivak....in houston good luck on your journey joanne

hi, i am having sugery tomorrow. i'm not nervous about the operation.....but i am excited and anxious about the big life change. i was getting some of my post op medicines, etc and was walking down the aisles of target saying "goodbye peeps, goodbye swedish fish" i was laughing to myself but i am really sick and tired of being sick and tired. before i made this decision...i felt i was going into an abyss. i usually get gung ho about working out and dieting for 2-3 mos...then gain it all back so i'm excited i have this tool to help me over that hump. anyway it true what you said about it being a life change.... what will i be able to complain about?:welldoneclap: .....nothing:clap2:

hi mine is 12,900 in houston. i was quoted 15,000 by another group here in houston

hi, i am new to this website and also in the process of getting a lapband. i started investigating 5 years ago!!! and then decided not to do it. here i am 5 yrs later...many diets later and still standing at the same weight as before. i am 248 lbs and 5'8" i live in katy, tx and was wondering if anyone has any input on a doctor they used in houston, tx. i am considering to go with dr ken hollis. anyway thanks ahead of time