Mal

Congrats! Welcome to the other side!! Best wishes

I wish I had found this band when I was your age! I too could think of many reasons to have the surgery done and few not to. Most of the not too's had nothing to do with me but my famiy, friends, work and the $$, well in the long run I finally took the plunge and told myself that I was worth it, every cent, every issue!! I very rarely did anything for myself and this was all for me and I tell ya' it made me feel so much better about myself. I always put others before me, this felt good and I am glad that I did it. Being scared is totally understandable, we all were...and still are, it is a process that takes a lot of work, the emotional part is tough!!! But we can do it!!!! We are all here for each other and that is a huge bonus!!! Come here to vent, learn and just be understood!!! We can do this! Bless ya' Mal

love~I am so sorry to heart about everything you have gone through only to find out that your ins co denied! If the band means that much to you maybe you could look other places...a loan, credit card,??? I have heard some use a second from their mortgage??? I wish you well and hope that something will come through for you!

Angel~WELCOME!!! This is the greatest site, lots of support and info! Congrats on your decision and your date!! See ya around the site!!

little~I think a lot of us have second thoughts. I know that I did. Just remember all the failed diets, losing the weight was not a problem for me, keeping it off was! This band will help with that. If you have made it this far in the decision process, I think you are ready. We deserve this chance to make our lives a healthier one! It is a big life change, but it is all for the better! I still second guess myself as to why I did this and it takes a few seconds before I recall just the 25 pounds ago. I already feel better, I can't wait for the rest of the weight to come off. It is hard work but the harder it is the more rewrding it is!! Hang in there, wee are all here to hold your hand through this!!

Thanks! I just LOVE Basset Hounds!!! Always have and always will. My new avatar is my Buster! aka Buster Brown aka Busta Rhymes (my teenagers), and Busta Move (also teenagers)!! Hugs and kisses for Gerb!!!

I decided to search for a local OA and there is one a couple blocks away AND they have a Saturday morning meeting! Is that a sign or what???

Morning Peeps! It is so nice to hear from Shesha and Mark nice to know your still around and have info to share, even if it is about BP's! Good job you two you are doing great, any advice for us?? Dynamo & Woofay~see ya tonight! You two probably won't be able to eat much and I have been eating too much!!! I am supposed to take my picture today for my "during", "work in progress" pics. I feel every bite I ate last night!!! Lap~we sure will miss you tonight! Please tell, what did you do for yourself yesterday?? That is harder than I thought it would be...I did nothing for myself....I did listen to a motivational CD, does that count? Congrats on the new school clothes, fun, fun, fun! I just gave away some new clothes that I just bought and they are too big!!! I love it! I don't remember a time when I owned clothes that were too big??? Too big was never a problem, so I truly enjoyed giving them away. I started to draw again and I would like to share with you my drawing (warning...it is emotionally dark). Can I e-mail it to you? I want your honest opinion...or do I??? LOL. You are the reason I started to draw again and this is the first one, so I just wanted to share. Beauty Day for all!!!

Morning gals and guys! Lap~really good advice...doing something for yourself everyday and journaling. I started to journal a few times, but I just can't keep up with it. I know you will do well with it. Therapy will be my next move (I have ben saying that forever, but it will). Dynamo & Woofay~ see ya tomorrow night! Woofay I hope your fill is treating you well today. I have to wait for another week for my second fill and boy do I need it! Marcy~hope you are doing well too...your fill is Aug 16th right? Shesha~how's your fill working? Have a bandtastic day!!!!

I remember I had terrible headaches and someone reminded me to watch my water intake. Drink, drink, drink...it helped me.

Ahoy my friends, I have returned from the hills and had a fabulous time. You really can't take a day away from LBT, lots of catch up reading to do. Lap~good for you on your appointment tomorrow. Keep us posted on your experience. I am thinking of looking into a Therapist for me. I hope your T and meds will be the right blend for you. Dynamo~I am soooo happy for you that your fill is good! I can't wait for mine. Marcy~sounds like you are doing great too! Your first fill is on the 16th, my second fill is the 17th! There's nothin' to it, youll be fine! Thanks for asking about my son...he is still in limbo...he is still driving me up all the walls!!! Woofay~put that scale away (at least for a while), give yourself space from the evil numbers!! You are doing fantastic and the SB diet will do it's job along with your band. I found the book on biblio for a buck too!!! I am seriously thinking about trying it too. Your 40 lbs is a great accomlishment. everyone else~hope all is moving along well! Have a great day!!!

TenGal~I am sorry to hear that you are going through a tough time now. I know it may seem like this phase will never end, but it will. Hang in there, this is a part of your recovery that is important. I remember crying thinking that I did this to make me happier and by not eating, I thought I was miserable. Just know that there are people out here that know what you are going through and are praying for your strength and recovery.

Hi want~ I had my LB done by Dr. K and I have had no regrets and no problems at all. *My experience~I was banded May 18th, I experienced no problems with post op, no gas, very little pain, I was shopping the day after surgery. I did have some (very little) liquid that formed around one of my incisions, but that was nothing. Dr K. asked me to return in a week to double check, and everything was fine. He is patient, kind, knowledgable and a very well respected surgeon (I have a good friend that is a physicain, he reffers his patients to Dr. K). "should I worry?" We all do, it is normal. My experience with Dr. K has been outstanding and I would reffer him to anyone who is interested in the LB. pros and cons~well, the pros are many...he is good at what he does. We have had a couple girls that needed to contact him, he returned calls within minutes! I have tried to reach one of my Dr's on a couple occasions and didn't get a return call for hours. He has a great staff. His price does not stop at placing the LB, it includes a nutritionist, a monthly support group, three months of after care (he charges $15.00 for a fill after that). I would love to see later office hours or weekend hours, or maybe cloning him and his staff so that could be possible??? I hope this helps, I have nothing but good things to say about my experience with Dr. K and his staff. I wish you well on your journey and keep us posted on your decision!

mare and shelbi~sorry, I wrote a reply to yoiur preo-op yesterday and lost it, so here goes from what I can remember. Dr. K will go over more details, questionss and concerns, he wil give you a packet of papers to take with you on your big day, give you some prescriptions for post op (pain meds and anti nausea suppositories), ummmmm tell you to buy some hibicleans stuff to wash your abdomen with a day or was it two days before surgery?? sign some papers, go over when and where you are going. I think that was about it??? Gals, did I miss anything????

Congrats Shesha! You have been doing so great, hanging in there after all you have been through! Way to go! Woofay~Yes, I plan on being at Red Robin (unless my drama has me too emotional). Thank for the book info, I have seen so many different titles, I wasn't sure which one to start with?? I forgot about that book site, I'll have to check it out, sounds great! I love your mindset! LOVE IT!! Lap and Dyno~Therapy is a move that I really need in my life. Good for you. I have been through many therapists with my son but have yet to get one for myself...someday! I am a fir believer in therapy, just haven't made the time for myself...typical Just~Dr. K decides where he is doing the surgery, he just lets us know where and when to show up. Dynao~thanks for asking about my son. We still don't know what the problem is. They think it is a muscle tear some where in the abdomen and groin??? The only thing he can do is rest and motrin. No work for a while, they say it could take months. He is is terrible pain all the time, he is grumpy and very impatient, which is driving me up ALL the walls! He has had a tough go for so many years, this is yet another challenge for him. I am off to the mountians tomorrow for some well desreved fresh air, relaxation, good friends and lots of drinking!!! CHEERS!!

just~Congrats on your decision! You wanted to know how far the surgical center is from his office? Well, he uses two, one right accross the street from his office, but I had mine done at Crown Center in Parker and it is about a 15-20 minute drive from his office. Are you local? You are more than welcome to meet at Red Robin with us Aug 9th! We would love to meet ya'!! Best wishes and there are enough of us Dr. K bandsters here to tell you that he and his staff will take great care of you!

Woofay! You are sooo ispirational, I love it!!! You are going to do FABULOUS on the south beach diet. What book did you get...I have been thinking about it and you just helped me "think" about it again!!! Keep up the motivation, it is soooo awesome!!! I decided (don't know why) to re-measure myself and I have lost an inch everywhere, except my calves (I gained an inch there??)...maybe all the walking??? anyway it was a nice booster becasue the scales is not moving!!!

I just got a new puppy too!! My avatar picture is my Buddy that I just had to put down a couple weeks ago, I just HAD to get another "love"!!! Congratrs on your pup!!! My new pup is a Basset Hound and hi sname is Buster.

Lap~Sorry to hear you are in a funk. You always brighten my day! You have a wonderful infectious spirit about you. The funk is deffinatly gong around, I too find myself not up to par lately. Too much "drama" in my life., I did find it very helpful to "just do it" attitude and I hit the gym last night, it made me feel great! I was so glad that I did it, all the pented up drama was deffinatly released after a good work out. Now I am looking foward to more tonight! I haven't been in like almost three weeks! IT was a nice escape for me. How is your art going? and your son? what about your sister, is she back to work? It would be great to see you again! Hang in there my friend, we are going to make it through this "funk" and soar!!!

Hey there, I haven't been through what you have, but I just wanted you to know that I feel your struggle and I am here to cheer you on! Vacations can be fun, but they also set us up for challenges. You can do this, it is what you have worked so hard for. Don't relive your mistake, chalk it up and move on! I believe in you, we can do this!!!

Aloha all!! Just thought I would stop in and let you all know that I am alive. Michelle and Anita, thanks again for the PM, very thoughtful. I was happy to hear from ya! My band is treating me well, I am ready for another fill (number 2), that will be Aug 17th. I could really use it now, but patience is golden...so I hear. The puppy is wonderful. He has adjusted very well and so have we. Woofay~GOOD FOR YOU, joining a gym!!! That's wonderful. I have been a member at my gym for about a year or so and I never went. I started to go again and I was sooo excited, I looked foward to it and missed it when I didn't go. I would just grab a water (with crystal light to go) and strap on my ipod and I was good. After my Buddy was put down I probably went two times after that and now I am back to sitting on my butt. The only excercise I have been getting is walking Buster (he is a a Basset hound, so that tells ya' about how much walking I do). My plan is to start again on Monday...which Monday???? well... I hope all is well with everyone!

When you took Chantex, did you do any other therapy along with it? My husband has been taking it for almost a month and he is still smoking.I don't think he even has cut down any yet? any thoughts?

Hey Gals! Hope all is well with everyone. Shesha~I bet you are happy to be home and feeling good about having your port fixed. When do you start your fills? I think I am ready for fill #2, now if I can just get my schedule in synch with Dr. K...I wish he did weekend appointments. Woofay~I don't remember when we scheduled our next dinner meeting??? I am thinking August 8th or 9th...Dynamo put it on her calendar. Thanks for asking about my son. He has seen 4 Dr's in a week!! Now we are waiting to hear form a Surgeon, our net step is a MRI, I think I will call today...the last Dr. thought maybe a muscle tear somewhere along the abdomen??? Oh,yeah, this is my 18 year old, not the one that was at our last dinner. My puppy has filled my heart with joy, I knew whenever I lost my Buddy that it would be difficult. Glad you enjoyed the book...I know that we already knew a lot that was in there, but it is nice to refresh our knowledge. I'm happy to hear that you are enjoying your time with your brother, he sounds like a wonderful person...lots of laughs I imagine. Lap~Where are you? I miss hearing from you!!! Marcy~hope your healing is going smooth! Nicnaknut~Welcome to the FAMILY!!! I had no shoulder pain at all!

Thanks gals! Thanks for the prayers and the wisdom. I tell ya' my life has always been fairly predictable and very sructured, but since May, things sure have changed!! Always something going on, I don't tknow that I CAN handle any more drama...I am ready to be a "Surviving Drama Queen"!!!, not a struggling one!:drama: Thank goodness I am not a stress eater. I am a "eat everything in the evening eater". Since getting the band and my first fill, I have been eating three meals a day and that really helps with not wanting to eat so much in the evening. WELCOME shelbi~ Dr. K and is staff are wonderful. Great surgeon, and his staff makes you feel comfortable. As busy as they are, they always have remembered my name and greeted me. The surgeon at Children's thinks it is a mucle tear, the next stop is a MRI, whenever we can get one scheduled. Dr. says nothing can be done for a tear, no ice, no heat...just motrin. He also says no work for him for about six weeks!! WOW, good for him that he is spoiled by mommy and daddy!