blossom

Wow, Lauri!!! If you keep this up, your gonna be a skinny girl before you get banded!!!

Congratulations, Tim!!! Welcome to bandland!!! As for the protein drinks, you really should call your dr and follow only his instructions.

Lauri, sweetie, your weightloss should be for YOU! It is YOUR health and YOUR life you are trying to save with your weightloss efforts. Try telling yourself that often and BELIEVE it! Once you get that straight in your head, the rest will fall into place. This is one of the hardest things I have ever learned to do, and I still struggle with it, but it is soooo important.

Sally, high blood pressure and knee-joint/arthritis issues ARE co-morbidities.

Christine, do you know what size band you have? By my third week out, I could eat a horse. It was like I had never had surgery at all. You name it I could eat it, and eat just as much as pre-band. Went to see my dr and found out he had used the 10cc band and ALL of his patients were experiencing the same thing. So, he is giving fills about a week early. I get my first fill on Monday, I can't wait to finally feel what its like to be banded!!!

Laurie, I think it sounds great, but I am definitely no insurance expert. You may want to pm Alexandra and ask her to take a look???

I went to see my dr today too. He had told me the last time I saw him that we would probably do a fill today. Instead, when I got there he just asked if I had a good Thanksgiving and said he would schedule the fill for next Monday. He didn't look at my tummy or anything. Not sure what I went in for....

Congratulations on your new band! Hope all is going well. Please post again as soon as you feel up to it!!!

I had those pump things on my legs until I got the ok to go home. HATED them!!! I wanted to walk, and would have gladly done it, if only they would have taken those things OFF me!!! Not to mention being shackled by a freakin CATHETER the whole time...

Hi! I was banded 11/5 and I remember having a lot of gas pressure during the second week, only it was not the CO2 kind, LOL! I took lots of gas-x. I also remember a bad taste in my mouth so am sure my breath was horrible! I chewed gum a lot, but never swallowed it. I also lost some weight both pre-op and post-op. Today, I have gained 2lbs back. This is normal. Consider any weight you lose before you get your first fill to be a bonus. I have very little restriction as well. Turns out my dr used the 10cc band on me. Makes a big difference, especially if you have a lower BMI (I was 38, barely). Welcome to bandland and congrautulations!

Great letter, Lauri!!! You're such a trooper and I am so proud of you!!! With your great attitude and tenacity you are sure to win this fight. Go, girl!!!

Kelly, we had an awesome Ghost thread around here a couple months ago. Your story would have been perfect there! My mom seems to have to mimic everything I do. It really started when I was in my teens. She always bought the same exact clothes as me, when I bought a house and began remodeling, she did all the same exact things to her house. It seemed to invade every facet of my life! It drove me crazy and finally a few years ago I began only seeing her on Christmas day. Oh, how I dread every Christmas!!! Now she mimics my sister and my niece. Hell, she even bought the same exact car as my niece! Now I NEVER let her know ANYTHING about me so she can't mimic me. Also, she thinks it's fine to gossip about her own children. I can't tell you how many countless times I ran into someone I hardly knew who seemed to know everything about me, good or bad! Yes, I have confronted her many times, but it does no good. I did have to tell her about my band, because I knew my sis would tell on me, LOL! So, eventually, I am sure I will run into people who know all about that too.

I'll try to answer, just don't hold me to having the right answer, LOL!! You have to have a pic sized 50x50 (I think) saved to your desktop. Then go to the top of this page and click UserCP, click edit avatar, scroll down almost to the bottom to where it says Custom Avatar, click the little circle next to Use custom avatar, then click browse to find & upload your pic from your desktop, then click save changes. Good luck!!!

I had lots of mashed potatoes and yummy soups during my mushie stage. I was even able to go out to eat and ordered soup and a baked potato. I can't even begin to describe how good it tasted!! I also was allowed to go to mushies on the 2nd week. Good luck to you!!!

Pat's gotta Band!! Pat's gotta Band!! Congratulations to you!!! Coffffffeeeee....I think that was the first thing I said in recovery, LOL!!!

Babs, I'm so sorry you're having a bad stretch. Sounds like everything has really put a load on your shoulders. We all go through times like this, and it doesn't help when it happens during the holiday season. I have learned from my own bad stretches to just wait it out and try to focus on the good things. All this dreary rain we've had recently probably isn't helping either. Its finally a beautiful day, why not try a brisk outdoor walk to help put things in perspective?

So in the case of erosion, what happens after the band is removed? Does the stomach ever become normal again? Can you ever be re-banded?

Wow! The difference is amazing! And you look so much younger in your newer pic, an NSV!!!

Fabulous!!! Congratulations on your success!

Hi, Steve! Congratulations on getting your band!

Welcome,Sonia! For me the surgery was a breeze. In the past, I have had the type of abdominal surgery where they actually open you up (think HUGE scar), and let me tell you, this laproscopic thing is a piece of cake compared to that!

Sonia, you are so right! It is a big step, and it is the most important step of your life! Congratulations!

Welcome back! Wow, 80lbs! You're doing great!!!

Doug, you must be so excited!! We are all hear rooting for ya! Please give us an update as soon as you can.

LOL, it's great to have friends you can smack around!!! Wonderful nsv, Zoe. You look great!