MammaJamma42

Welcome zingy to our July band buddies group! Sounds like you're off to an amazing start! And from Ireland - very cool! I've always wanted to visit Ireland. I have a lot of ancestors from there. You are TALL! Lucky you! My husband and son are both 6'5", so I know some of the challenges of being tall, but also some of the rewards. I am only 5'6", but lucky to have them around to reach anything for me when I need it. Great to meet you!

Congratulations on your decision and welcome! Best decision I ever made for myself and my family!

Adding my prayers for Shantelle and Missy and their blood clots. That sounds like scary stuff, but I believe like PT and am sending positive thoughts and prayers your way too! Take care and let us know how it goes!

No kidding! I'd be happy to wait several hours for that!

You'll do great, and you'll be so happy you took this step! Let us know how you're doing when you're awake!

That is SOOOOOO cool!! I would love it if that ever happened to me! I went in yesterday for my two-month post-op visit, and was 4 pounds heavier in the doctor's office than I was at home on my scale. Granted I was in my nightgown first thing in the morning when I weighed on my scale, and fully clothed (minus shoes), after breakfast and lunch when I weighed on their scale, but still... I think I would have been jumping for joy if I were you! I always tell them their scale weighs heavier than mine, and I always feel like I'm trying to justify my weight loss. I hate that. But yay for you - what an inspiration! That is beyond AWESOME!!!!!

I had my surgery on 7/18, and I just went for my two-month post-op appointment this afternoon. I'm down a total of 37.2 pounds (10 pounds over the last four weeks). He didn't do a fill this time because he said I didn't need one, since I'm in the green zone). Everything is going great - not hungry, haven't had any stuck episodes, no throwing up, no problems at all! I haven't regretted my decision for even one moment. Best choice I ever made as well!

Congratulations! How exciting!! I can't wait to get there too!

Good luck! It'll be great!

First of all, let me say that I think you look GREAT! I would love to look like you do, BUT I can also understand your disappointment with your arms after having surgery. I think I would be disappointed too. I've always had fat arms, and I expect to have a lot of flabby skin hanging down after I lose all my weight. I'm not looking forward to the skin removal surgery, but if I decide to do it, I would fully expect to have beautiful slender and firm arms. I don't think your expectations are unrealistic at all. It sounds to me as if your doctor is being unreasonable. While you definitely don't have old lady flappy Bingo arms, it looks to me as if there is more they could remove. Just being honest. However, looking as I look now, I would probably still go sleeveless if I were you. I hope the psychologist can help you work all this out. I think that's probably the best thing to start with. We can't obsess about every little thing wrong with our bodies or we'd all go crazy. We have to learn to love and accept ourselves, flaws and all! Good luck, sweetie - I wish you all the best! Remember - you're a beautiful person, inside and out! P.S. Your boobs look amazing!!!!

I think it's only natural to start having last minute jitters. I think we all do it - I know I sure did. I was expecting way more pain when I woke up and much more difficulty post-op than I've had. I haven't regretted it for even one moment since I've done it. The only thing I regret is that I waited so dang long to have this surgery! Wish I'd done it years ago when I first heard about it then I could have been healthier so much sooner. Just follow your doctor's orders and take care of yourself and you'll do great. What everyone else has said is right on. And you're not a loser at all! I think it's extremely brave to take such a huge step to take control of the issue now. That is HUGE!!

It is, Mary! And it's only 80 calories and has 12 grams of protein!

I totally get it too! I have my favorite treat every afternoon between 3 and 4 - Dannon Light & Fit Greek Yogurt. It is like eating ice cream to me now! LOVE, love, love it!! Never loved anything so healthy so much before this surgery!

My doctor allows his patients to eat food up to two hours before the fill. Then, following the fill, it's full liquids only for at least the first 48 hours, then progress to mushies and so forth.

I definitely had that when I was on the pre-op diet! I was just so hungry a good deal of the time, I think it's nearly impossible not to get grumpy! Hang in there though - you'll make it, and it'll be worth it!

This is the first time in my life I've decided to be honest with people when they ask. I tell them, and I'm actually thrilled when they ask! I'm also being honest with my family and my husband about my weight. I've never, ever, ever, ever confided in anybody about my weight (other than my doctors - not even my husband, and I've been married for 31 years), but I've decided that was just me in a state of denial in a way, and that the only way to really face it and deal with it was by them knowing so they can help hold me accountable. It's actually quite liberating! I'm looking forward to the day when I can tell everyone that I've lost 150 pounds!

Good luck, Donna! I had my surgery almost 6 weeks ago and all is going great for me so far. I haven't regretted it even for a moment so far. I'm also doing it for health reasons, mainly to prepare for a knee replacement. I know you'll do great! Keep us posted on your surgery! Are you doing the pre-op diet right now?

Ah, good to know! I can swallow tablets! Just wasn't relishing the thought of having to taste pond scum - LOL!

Okay, I have to admit, this cracked me up. It really does sound amazing, but this one sentence is what got me: "Though it does taste like pond scum, Spirulina has some great health-boosting qualities" - LOL!! You'll have to let us know how it goes once you receive it, and how it tastes.

I'd like to know where you're getting your statistic of the 40% failure rate. I've never heard or read anything nearly that high.

I'm so happy for you, Anna!! I think you'll be happy with your decision. I'm so glad I did it! Only wish I'd done it much sooner and at a much lower weight!!

I had my first fill today - and was pleasantly surprised that it was really no big deal at all. Just felt a little pinch when the needle went in. Otherwise felt nothing at all in the band, and it was really quick! He only put in 1 cc. I had to drink a cup of water to see how it went down. I had a little gurgling, but not a problem. I'm glad he didn't put in more though, or I think it would be too much maybe. He said most people there do well working up to 4 cc's (in a 10 cc band) in about a year. He had me kind of do a crunch so he could find the port more easily, and then stuck the needle in. I was surprised at where the port is - not as close to the incision as I thought it was! I go back in a month. Good luck to everyone else on their first fills this week!

My surgery was on 7/18 and I have my first fill this afternoon at 2:30! I'm kind of excited, but also a little nervous. I've kind of learned how to manage with it like it is now, but I have had some hunger for sure. Would be nice not to be hungry, but not looking forward to liquids again! I'll let y'all know how how it goes.