dena57

good morning! I have the bikini line prot placement. I don't even notice it is there. I would be happy to answer any questions you have.

would i know if my band slipped or if there was any changes to my pouch or to the band??? I am just curious... I feel like i want to make an appt just to see...

I wish that I could say that I am exercising.. but have yet to... I am working full time, going to college full time and have a 2 & 5 year old at home... I am lucky to get sleep! I do eat much, much better and much less! I have cut out the white flour items (no bread or rice) and of course choose low fat- sugar free items... I think my weakness is chips & salsa.. lol! Found that it is not too bad to eat that! I want a soda so bad though.. I am a stress eater and chew lots of gum! So if I am feeling stressed I try to drink water and chew gum... silly i know.. but it is that or find something that I can eat... I still have not mastered the chew-chew-chew method or the smaller bites so I get maybe 10% into my meal and it hurts so I stop... I am taking vitamins DAILY!!! I thing that just cutting the bread, rice and sodas has helped as well. If you cut those out without the lapband it would help! I need to exercise and have all of the stuff to do it on.. it is just a matter of doing it... I have changed my starbucks drink to non-fat, sf... it is the little stuff!!! I think that I have about 15 more to go as I don't want to look sick... I am only 5'1" with a small frame so if I loose too much I will not look good.. I think that i will know when I get there.. I hope...

Hey there! I was banded 4/6/07. Surgery went great! The pharmacy woud not fill the pain meds because they had to talk to the dr and it was a holiday weekend, other than that.. it went great! Weight is falling off at the rate of about 3 lbs a week... very greatful for that!! Looking forward to goal weight! Wishing everyone many pounds lost!!

Eileen~ hey there... I have to tell you that at 1st I was not so sure about it... it was swolen and there was a large lump but now, I don't even know it is there. i have had 3 children so i have a small "pooch" but even since the surgery I have gone from wearing a size 16/18 to a 6/8 and can not tell that it is there. only sign is a small scar. I have had 1 fill and will go next week for my second. It was difficult for them to find the top of the port but again. I don't have much left there. Once they found it, i had a new nurse as well, she did what she had to do and I went back to work. it was a little soar but I think that was only because they did so much digging and moving to try and get the port in the correct place. I did have to arch my back to push the port up to help them locate it.. but really.. it is an ideal spot. I don't really forsee losing soo much weight that it would stick out because my bones would then stick out as well... to want to look sickly... I am thinking that i have not had a great fill just yet because i really don't feel too different... the only "feeling" that I have had is that "stuck" feeling, either the food needs to go down or come up... but anyway... I will let you know how next week goes. keep me posted as well! Take care! Dena

thanks for the input... it is greatly appreciated to know that I am not alone!!!

this is probably a dumb question but I just need some clarification... I had a fill on 5/8/07. 1st one... since then when i eat something that i did not chew well enough or something that I should NOT eat, I have a terrible, terrible, constricted feeling in my chest, like it will not go down but does not come up... is that restriction??? I am learning to take smaller bites, chew, chew, chew and not eat certain things... Just want to clarify that this is what it shoudl feel like.. thanks for any input!!!

just a quick note that I was also banded by Dr. Spivak in April 2007, my port is actually below my bikini line, almost to my c-section scar.... don't even know it is there... had he put it below my bra line, it would have shown immediately. I am sooo a "pear" shaped person!

thanks so much... i figured as much... I am going back in June for fill#2... I have not had the "full feeling" just yet. I usually stop when I get the restricted feeling... and you are probably 100% right... still learning!!! big change in lifestyle that is for sure!!

hey there... I am filled & back @ work... according to their scales I have lost 15 lbs in a month... filled 1.5cc with saline and I will go back in 4 weeks for the "sticky" solution as she called it... Saw everything on the xray machine as well.. very cool... My port was a little bt harder to find and a little bit sore in that area but other than me getting lost downtown.. I was in & out of there... funny how different dr's can be though.. I am on liquids for today and mushies for 2 days... skinny days are ahead!

hey there... I am having my 1st fill today (5/8/07) as well... I am glad to see that there is someone else out there with the same "stats"... I felt really stupid going in with a BMI of only 31 but have struggled all my life with my weight. I was banded 4/6/07 and have lost about 18 pounds so far... I am sooo ready for my fill.. BRING IT ON!!! Just an extra edge... making the struggle just a little less painful! the end result will be sooo worth it!!!! Good luck to you both today! Dena Banded 4/6/07 166/148/GOAL ~ 115 Dr Spivak - Texas