moinGJ

Hellooooo out there! If there are any Colorado banded people out there that have had surgery with Dr. johnell or any other doctor in Colorado, would love to hear from you. I am 2 months post op and going in today for my second fill, it has been interesting to say the least. I am down 25 lbs, and am feeling pretty darn good! walking almost every morning and joined curves a month ago..... I am not so good with going there 3 day's a week like I said i was going to! I would like to see more people from colorado post on here, hope to hear from you soon! Maurine

Hi Alexis, My personal e-mail is on the previous thread, e-mail me and we can discuss the lapband life lol. chat with you soon Maurine

Hi Ginni, Nice to meet you, I live in Grand Junction, so am a bit away from most of you. Will you be going to Dr. Johnell for your fills? how much did you lose in your 15 month period? and tell me what sort of problems your dealing with at the moment....I am on my 3rd fill and going in next week for my 4th, it seemed as though I didn't have much restriction until my 3rd fill and am doing ok for now except the dreaded Holiday yummies! I am sure I won't have lost much or any weight this time around, I am going to have to work harder from here on out for awhile. If you would like to email me at mhimes62@msn.com for an online support please feel free! I have a few other friends that I am hoping we can all Instant message one another one day a week at the same time so we can chat and see how one another are doing at our different stages. Maurine

I am curious( this is for anyone who wants to answer lol)....After your 1st fill how long did the restriction last? and then your 2nd fill? For me the 1st lasted about 3 days then I could eat pretty well again the 2nd fill lasted real well for about 5 day's then it's a hit and miss restriction. I am hoping that soon it will feel a constant restriction and I will not be so hungry. I suppose some of it is head hunger, but man some days I want to eat everything I can lay my hands on! I am looking forward to the 15th fill and maybe controlling myself some during Christmas Maurine

Hi Mary WOW! 53 lbs! how exciting! I won't be going to the Christmas party due to the fact that I live in Grand Junction (5hrs away) and I am at the point of making the the trip to Greeley every two weeks right now. I will be there on the 15th for my 3rd fill. I have lost 25 lbs so far and am real happy with Dr. johnell and his staff. Steve has had a little trouble giving me my fill lol but Paula comes in and takes over I am feeling my 2nd fill alot better than the 1st..... I was begining to think I was failing at this! but now I am feeling a bit better control of myself and not thinking about food all day. Do you know others that have had their surgery with Dr. Johnell? and have you gone to any support groups? I know of two people hopeful1 (denise) and she is going to get onto my instant messaging so we can begin a small support group, if your interested let me know so we can set up times to all chat at once and discuss our weight loss journey. Happy to meet you! Maurine starting weight Oct 4th 265 weight Oct 12/ 252 weight Nov 18/ 244 weight Dec 1/ 241

Katie, I understand about (eating everything you want!) I am sure you will only be a day or so off on your fill, hang tough. I don't get my first fill till the 18th and I am going nuts! I am back to obsessing about what I am going to eat for each meal! My will power is sorta kickin in, and I have begun exercising on a more regular basis so hopefully that will help balance out my larger quanity of intake until I can get a few fills. Good luck to you, let me know when you feel restriction after your first fill, I have heard from a few people that it takes a few day's and that it also takes a few fills before you start seeing results, so your a few weeks ahead of me I would love to hear how it goes for you. Maurine banded 10-5-04 starting weight 265 weight as of 10-5-05 *249

Denise, try GNC pro performance 100% whey protien, vanilla flavor. I drink it for Breakfast every morning, I like the taste and I add different types of fruit, one of my favorite things to add is; 1/2 a banana, and a few table spoons of sugar/fat free banana cream pie pudding mix........ VERY good! congrats on your band Maurine

Hello everyone! thought I would give an update as to how things have gone for me. I had my pre op visit with Dr. Johnell in Greeley Co. I got on the scale and to my suprise I had lost 8 lbs prior to surgery My surgery was on Oct. 5th at about 1:00 p.m. but went very 'routinely' I woke up later in the day and looked at my tummy and thought "well....I can't change my mind now!" lol. I lay in my bed for a bit longer then began walking the halls, I read the sooner your up and moving the better, I believe it is a true statement. After 3 'walks' I was sitting in my room and a lady I didn't recognize came in with a bouquet of flowers, at first I thought she may have the wrong room but soon learned that it was Hopeful1! (denise) what a sweet heart to bring me flowers! so what do two people from lapband.com do when they first meet? well I raised my gown and showed her my incision! lol It was so great meeting her and visiting face to face. The next morning after going in and swallowing the barium solution to make sure that my band was allowing liquid to flow through properly I was able to eat 1oz. portions every 15 min. of Jello, juice, decaf coffee, broth. The ride home (5 hrs) was fine and I only snoozed slightly, I was glad to be going home. The first 2 days were ok, I slowly sipped Water and drank my protien drink mostly for Breakfast and ate about 2 tablespoons of mashed potatos for lunch and a protien drink or Soup for supper. Now the 3rd day through the 7th was very rocky for me and I wondered if I had done the right thing by doing this surgery! I was in pain mostly at night (sore, felt dehydrated, TIRED,) had gas badly! so chomped down a few GasX and that worked very well. When I had gone in for my first week checkup I had lost another 13 lbs! I am now 3 weeks out and can truthfully say I am very happy that I have had the surgery.... Every day seems a little different as I am getting to know my band. After my first visit I was told I couldn't have a fill for 5 weeks due to healing process, I won't lie, I have been one starving women! after your fleet, broth and protien drinks and hardly any restriction....... I feel like the 'old' me is back, then all of a sudden, I get a little restriction and I remember what it feels like and can't wait to get my first fill or two. I will admit I didn't stick to the 'diet' as well as was directed. I eat what taste and feels good, by that I mean chicken fixed in my pressure cooker, fish, a few veggies and very little fruit, yogurt, potatos, Soups. I have to talk to myself to stay with smaller portions but have realized the quanity I am eating is about 1/2 of my 'old' ways with out trying to hard to hold back. I went out for breakfast the other morning and ordered a meal from the senior menu, showed them my lapband card, and the waitress said oh, ok sure. I was happy with myself for not being embarrassed to show my card and explain my situation. She come back out with a full meal instead of half, and said "sorry we didn't have a half meal back there". I looked at her and said please bring me a box....now,and I would love some more decaf coffee. My take home box was back at our table lickety split, I was determined that if she didn't bring it right away I wasn't leaving a tip. I wondered if I could stop at half the meal, I was scared I might be able to eat the whole thing! Nice to report that I ate my protien first, ( 1 egg, maybe half chicken fried steak chewed thoroughly!!!!! with some gravy) and never touched my hash browns, put it all in the box and wasn't hungry all day! didn't even think about the box sitting in the fridge! my son ate it the next morning for breakfast. I know I should be eating pureed foods but I am cutting very, very small bite sized bites, I have found I needed something to 'chew' on I had enough liquids! I seem to be staying fuller longer than pureeing my meat, I do believe the doctors ask you to stay as close to the recomended diet as possible so as not to irritate your band or tummy while it goes through the healing stage and I quite agree as I had an experience I won't soon forget! I popped a normal size bite into my mouth without thinking about it and chewed slightly and swallowed but it was to late! it hit my stomach like a ton of bricks! felt like it was lodged between the band and stomach, also felt like your having a heart attack! wouldn't recomend that experience right off the bat to anyone! So now whenever I chew my meat I CHEW and CHEW my meat!. Not sure if I have lost any weight since my first week post op visit, I was told I was on my own and had to have some will power and not to be upset if I didn't lose any or maybe gained a lb or two, I decided I would try a little test with myself, to not weigh in until my first fill Nov.18th. I wanted to try and 'feel' my weight loss if any, so far I have begun walking and trying a little bit of aerobics, no stomach exercises yet, still abit sore, maybe more afraid lol, and smaller portions of food. What I am finding is some of my more 'fatty' spots are trimming away, under my arms, my hips, legs, could be more toning from the walks than losing but I wanted to learn to not get all hung up on the scale, and realize I will have those times where I am going to be plateauing and my body is catching up. I asked my 15 year old son "Hey, can you tell that I have lost any in my tummy yet?" he looked at me for a second and smiled and said " mom! your face looks alot thinner already!" LOLOL I know I have written a book but wanted to catch you all up on my new life adventure! To all wondering and waiting on surgery, just my opinion, I am so happy I made the decision....... takin' baby steps! Maurine Maurine

WOW Tanise! I was sitting here reading your post and realized that your right exercise, exercise, excersize is a major component to the weight loss adventure. Not only will I feel better but I will be busy and stop thinking about my next meal! I am 3 weeks out and won't have my first fill until Nov. 18th so I need to get my butt moving! and stop fretting about how far away my first fill is! Thanks for the little shove, I needed it! congrats on a job well done!

Becky, I think after obsessing about the surgery for 3 months and then finally getting the ok, I didn't have anything to do but wait...... so I think my mind started playing with me! lol Thanks for your support, you are more than welcome to stop by and visit me after my surgery if you like Denise will need to come along with you so we can have a hen party! It would be great to meet you both. waiting patiently Maurine

Hello! I have been lurking in the shadows reading post after post waiting not so patiently for my surgery..... I have finally been approved by my insurance co. United Health Care and my surgery will be Oct 5th. I am so excited and sort of nervous, I think that is pretty normal so I will hang tough and go for it! My doctor is Micheal Johnell from Greeley Colorado, I have a 3 to 4 hour drive I will be having some lab work and psych evaluation done the 28th and 29th of this month, then as of Oct. 5th I will be banded! I am happy to become part of this site, it will be nice to have people to chat with as I become a big loser! LOL Wish me luck! Maurine

Becky, I am still on for Oct 5th! I was so happy to read that your thrilled about your band, I know this will sound odd, after all the fight I have gone through to get the insurance approval, I actually layed in bed lastnight and tried to talk myself out of being banded...... Did you go through this before surgery? I have done nothing but almost obsess about having surgery since the end of June and now I'm getting cold feet! Not sure why.... I only met Dr. Johnell very briefly, but felt secure that he will do a great job and you have reinforced my feelings. The count down is on! lol Maurine

Hello everyone! :mad: I have been reading this site off and on since June and have learned soooo much from others who have been banded, as a matter of fact this site has been about the ONLY thing that has kept me motivated! I too will be a Dr. Johnell patient...... I hope....... I had a consultation w/ Dr. Johnell June 28th, found out from my ins. co. that Dr. Johnells letter was recieved July 15th and that it would be in review for 30 day's......Aug.25th I called the ins. co. and was told I was approved, I was shaking with excitment as I was put on hold while United Health Care called Dr. Johnell's office to set me up with a surgery date of Sept. 14th. After my phone conversation with my ins. co. I called Karen at Dr. Johnell's office and set up my lab work, psych eval. and classes. Aug 26th Karen at Johnell's office called and said that when she called the ins. co. they denied having said I was approved....... Ok, so where did I get a surgery date??? I called the ins.co. back and for ever ( 2 weeks) couldn't find a shred of info on me! I called them over and over and finally one gal said she found all of my info but that they started the review process all over again as of the 25th of Aug! so maybe another 30 to 45 day's she had given me a notification number and had also given me an issue number that would pull up all my records, then she said she would have a manager call me...... No one called me, so I called back, I was determined to get some answers, I was tired of being nice and waiting for everything to go through it's ' process' I called UHC and asked for the lady's ext and of course they couldn't put me through because it was another department. The lady said could I help you?? I said you know I really doubt it but here goes, and please don't interrupt me while I tell you my story. I was rambling on, she tried to interrupt me...I said " PLEASE! don't talk, just listen!" I finished and I said " can you help me?" she said well..... I was trying to tell you, you have been approved. I said are you sure? she said yes I said "for sure?" she said uh hum!..... Sooooo I am due to go for testing and classes Sept. 28th and 29th. and surgery Oct. 5th. I missed a call from Karen yesterday (17th) I hope when I call back on Monday things haven't changed again! I realize Dr. Johnell's office went through a move, and they have lot's of other patients besides myself but I sure felt like I was fighting this battle alone, maybe that's the way it's suppose to be but if I wouldn't have called and bugged people to death who know's where it all would be? I know the fight will be worth it...... On the bright side I am excited, nervous and overjoyed that my life is going to go through a change, I am 5'2", 42 years old and I need to lose about 120 lbs. I have heard good things about Johnell and his staff, I will be travelling from Grand junction and am thrilled to find people who have had or will be having surgery with Dr. Johnell Maurine

Hello everyone ..... I was looking for a place to gain more info about the lap band. I am from Colorado and have to drive 5 hours to the hospital where the surgery can be performed, but feel very good about Dr. Johnelle and his staff. I have read many of your post and can tell from what I read that most of you are so happy with your choice to be banded. I am waiting to hear from my insurance co. so we will see what happens. I want to have this surgery very badly, I am 5'2" 265 and my BMI is a 48. Thank the lord I don't have any major health problems as of to date, I would like to keep it that way! I will continue to read all of your post and when I have questions I will jump on here and ask..... Newbie from Colorado Mo