Zoe

Thanks, Kathy -- and if you could use some 22/24 clothes, please let me know, not that you'll need them for long, with your banding just a couple weeks away.

Proposed patron saint of the S.O.R.D.: St. George.

Spring is in the air. . . and I can't help thinking that Blossom would be thrilled to see so many newcomers ready to sprout new life. Congratulations to the April posse!

Cool story, Tony (and Jack)! Thanks for posting it.

Congratulations! Drop us a line when you feel like it to tell us about your experience and let us know how you're feeling now. Welcome to Bandland!

Ouch. . . I think maybe I'll live with the saggy legs. I'm too old for miniskirts anyway!

Trish, if you have alcoholism in your family and you aren't drinking yourself senseless right now, you are almost certainly going to be OK. For one thing, you aren't acting like an alcoholic now. Forget about the food stuff -- I'm talking just alcohol (and other mind-altering substances). Second, you're aware that you might be at risk, so you're monitoring yourself. Third, a lot of us have what might be called compulsive eating disorders, but there's one difference between that and alcoholism: you can cut down on food, but you can't do without it altogether. Fourth, the band will help with the food demons once you get the right fill. In my limited experience, recovering alcoholics are more likely to turn to food than recovering overeaters to alcohol; my heavy recovering friends and relatives will back me up on this. OK, I'm jumping off the soapbox now. Good luck, Trish. I think you'll be fine.

Congratulations, Janie! And Sharon, Goober will be tipping the teeter-totter before you know it.

What sad news. Philip, thank you for taking the time to write during this difficult time. As so many have already noted, Blossom was a warm and kind presence here. She brightened our virtual lives, and will be missed.

I humbly suggest that our moderators put a sticky on this thread.

Way to go, Emmy and D! My black jeans are on the way. I think they're a 20 tall... I wash them in hot water for maximum shrinkage, so they might fit. If you know anyone looking for 22s, let me know.

I'm packing up some clothes this weekend. DeLarla's getting my 18/20 tall stuff (jeans, etc); Kyleigh's getting 18/20 summer stuff. I gave away most of my size 24s. But I still have a few size 22 things I'd be happy to send to a bandster. These are not gorgeous items, just basics, including a couple of pairs of shorts, although I may finally part with the slinky lycra-blend pants and tops that have seen me through the last 50 lbs., and somewhere in the basement I have a decent Elisabeth linen suit, size 22 I think, that never looked good on me at any size but was at an irresistible sale price. Please note that I am taller than the average bear, long-legged and pear-shaped -- not that my tank tops won't fit you, but consider yourselves forewarned. If you want a box o'stuff, let me know. And when you shrink further, you can give it all to someone else!

Different docs seem to have different protocols, and for some it depends on your BMI. I didn't have to change my diet at all before the surgery, and my BMI was 39-ish. But some smaller people have been asked to go on liquids for weeks before banding, and some larger patients with BMIs >50 don't have to make any changes, depending on the doctor. Liver size is an issue; a liver retractor is one of the implements used during the laparascopic procedure. (The resulting scar is tiny.) Yes, 22 lbs. is a lot to lose in such a short time, but if your doc says you have a liver problem and wants you to lose weight before surgery, he's probably doing it to make the surgery easier for both of you. It's a drag, but lots of people here (like Greg and Shaz) have done it and had successful results... maybe they'll share their liquid-diet secrets.

If you're looking for size 22 clothes, check this new thread: http://lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?p=60941#post60941 Guys, that goes for you, too -- I gave all my high-heeled size-11 shoes to a drag show years ago!

I bopped around a lot -- Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, wandering aimlessly around S.A. for a while (especially the wineries -- those were the days!), Alice Springs & Ayers Rock, Cairns for a week or two. Snorkeling on the Great Barrier Reef was one of the best experiences of my life. I went through Brisbane at one point but was headed back to the US so I didn't have time to do more than squint at the sun. Australia is an amazing country and I hereby encourage all my fellow Yanks to go there! Brissie, the other Aussies should be crawling out any day now; there are quite a few on the board and they all seem to be doing well with their bands. Congrats on your decision -- now just see if you can stand waiting another four weeks! That's one of the hardest parts of this.

Good luck, Penni! The monovision option sounds interesting; wish I could handle it. Two of my brothers had regular Lasik surgery a few years ago (before they needed reading glasses) and they've been delighted. But I'm a big wimp about my eyes so I'm sticking to my bifocals... the snazzy kind without a visible division between the distance and the geezer lens.

Hey, Birdee, if by any chance you are anywhere near Chicago, you're welcome to take my Nordic Track for free -- dust included at no additional charge.

I just updated too -- at 206 (real weight 205.5) so when my steroid gain shows up next Monday it won't look quite so bad.

Good luck, Brandi! Sounds as if you have good insurance. Meanwhile, check out the "favorite pet" thread on the Lap Band Talk Lounge forum to see some other bandster pups. I'llsucceed has a beautiful Boxer boy.

Excellent. Someone could actually get an accurate impression of Bandland by reading only the list! Well done, D.

If you mean Lampe Berger, yes. I don't use it often, because the smell can be intense. I like "Calyx" by Prescriptives, but in real life this is what I wear: Undertone: Drips from melted low-fat Fudgsicles Top note: Dog fur

Excellent suggestions, all! Thanks, Donali, for thinking of this. How about a thread on the emotions one might experience just before and after surgery? A lot of newbies (and I oughta know, I was one of them) are scared about being scared and worry a lot about how their relationship with food will change.

Hey, WillPower, congratulations! Just one more day now. I think Jamie is getting her band on the 18th too. Never mind the Harley -- how about a little red convertible? They're not just for mid-life crises anymore!

Isn't it strange how clothing sizes have not only changed over the years but between, and even within, the manufacturers' lines? Today I can wear Avenue 14 shirts, no problem. But the smallest thing (not the smallest size) in my closet is a fire-engine-red silk dress, size 14, that I won't be able to wear until I lose at least 30 lbs. Mind you, the thing is 25 years old. In today's sizes, it's probably about a 10. If you want to drive yourself crazy, try figuring out what pants to buy at Eddie Bauer. They have five different fits, then you choose above, at, or below the waist, then you have to figure out your size. A 16 fits 33" waist, 43" hips. A 16W fits 35" waist, 45" hips. I give up! I'm wearing a burka until I can fit into that red dress again!

Your surgery date is just a month away! Welcome to LBT. Not to be dense, but does your screen name mean you're from Brisbane? I was in Oz for a couple of months years ago.