Zoe

Vines, you had me laughing out loud at your Phobia Phactor post! I could handle the flan, but the Gap/mall would have me squealing in terror; sushi, OK, but not the dreaded FUGU. And Penni, if you can forget that you're surrounded by a film crew while you're naked, my hat's off to you. Maybe that's the wrong piece of clothing to mention. . .

Hi Sharon T -- I'm with you on this one. If there are other options, turn your back on these bozos. They sound unprofessional and immature. I guess I'm not surprised that the staff members have nicknames for patients, but I was appalled to learn that they laughed at them during an informational seminar. On the other hand, Jasper seems to have had a good experience with this doc. Can you get an appointment for a consultation with the surgeon himself or will all of your pre-surgical dealings be with the staff? I think it's worth checking the Inamed web site to find other choices if you don't feel comfortable. Good luck.

What Not to Wear? While I love the idea of getting advice and a whole new wardrobe, the possibility of undressing before a television camera at any weight makes me faint. I don't know what "The Amazing Race" is. Like Alex, I'm not reality show material. . . although if the BBC show "The Life Laundry" found me, I might overcome my reticence just to get rid of the bins of crap in my house. PS: Vines, the QueerEye guys never seem to venture outside the NYC area except for their UK specials. Call me crazy, but I don't think they'd drool at the chance to go to SE Idaho!

Whatever happens, good luck to you, Christina. I'm afraid I'm with Alexandra and Scotty on this one; from what I can see, reality shows turn the contestants into objects of mockery. The networks make a buck making fools out of people. I guess if you win, of course you can laugh all the way to the proverbial bank. It certainly wouldn't be my thing -- but with your acting background, this might be right for you. Have you had further thoughts about whether you'll get banded even if you don't go on the show?

I'm nearly 48 and I still leave stuff all over the house! Of course, it's not the same when you have to pick it up yourself. Even my dog went through a phase of herding all the shoes into a pile in the middle of the living room. She didn't chew them, just collect -- like the rest of my family. My one-month-old niece is the only one who might have hope of being organized.

Planting season will never be the same! Congrats, momoffour. Have a great weekend, everyone -- see you here on Monday!

That I looked like a tired old hooker? Seriously, I dyed my hair for years. But expensive salon or home bottle, it all looks cheap and fake on me, and it's way too high-maintenance. Brunette, every possible shade of red from burgundy to Ronald McDonald, highlights -- been there, done that. I have a great platinum wig, though!

The good news is that even if you put some of the water weight back on, you'll still be losing fat, whether the scale shows a difference or not. (That's one reason some of us notice a change in our shape even if our weight stays the same.) BTW, I noticed a difference after about 10 days; my face and ankles were thinner. I think that's pretty common. You are starting to shrink for real! Congrats, Caramel.

Hey Caramel, don't get too used to this rapid weight loss. You are probably losing a lot of water right now.

In Wisconsin.

Congrats on the 10 lbs., Tony, but what a way to lose it. I hope you're feeling better. Not everyone can take Vicodin; I'm a fan, but a friend of mine passed out and was very nauseated and dizzy after taking one pill. Are you able to keep liquids down now? Hope so. I'll add my voice to the chorus saying that things get better. They do, really. We're all here to tell about it.

Thanks for the news, Jenna. I'm glad you have some extra time with Jeter, even if no one can be sure how long. You're doing everything you can to make him comfortable. Who knows -- miracles can happen. My Lola had a long remission from her cancer, and I was grateful for any extra days. I know you will be too. Sounds like you're doing awfully well with the smoking, considering everything. Please give that gorgeous dog an extra treat and massage from all of us at LBT.

Christina, I hope you hear good news tomorrow! Lots of bandsters have had incredibly frustrating experiences with their insurance companies. Take that gorgeous Boxer for an extra walk tonight to work off some nervous energy -- and please let us know what you hear from the insurer. . . Penni needs to pee!

Amen, DeLarla. I hope I can come to Vegas. I'm not much of a gambler, but I bet it'll be a blast. I can't help with arrangements but I won't pester anyone either. PS: My back has been wacked out for the last two weeks so I haven't been able to pack up the clothes I promised you; hope to be able to move again in another week or so.

Hi ChunkyChicago. I'm in Chicago too. Here's my off-the-cuff answer: 1. What should i look for with financing, my credit isnt the greatest and i know I cannot afford to pay up front, anyone have any advice? >Some doctors offer their own financing through agencies. Most don't accept credit cards, unfortunately. A few of us have used home-equity loans, but that's not an option if you're a renter. So ask your surgeon's office if there are payment plans. 2. Can anyone recommend a good dr. in Chicago for followups? >I go to Dr. Santiago Horgan. He's good. He's also expensive if you aren't one of his patients. If you decide to use a Mexican surgeon, don't even buy a plane ticket until you line up after-care. Ask the doc if he/she can recommend someone local for follow-up. Then call the suggested person(s) and make sure you can get care, and that you know what the prices and policies are. 3. any general lap-band advice for someone so young, poor and obese? >Read all you can and don't get discouraged. That includes everything from before-and-after photos to stories from people who regretted getting the band to testimonials and complaints about specific doctors to (most important) descriptions of how the band works and how you will have to work with the band. 4. Has anyone had any serious problems with Mexican doctors? >Check out the "Doctors" forum below. Good luck! There are a lot of us Chicago bandsters. Not enough to take on the Texan posse, maybe, but we are mighty.

Hi Jeffy -- We Yanks have different medical coverage problems, so I'm glad Chantal and Sacha posted here. Greg, thanks for mentioning Iamcanadian25 too. Let us know what you find out. Good luck!

Sounds good to me -- civility without censorship. Well done.

Hi Norma -- Check out the food forum below. There are a lot of suggestions there.

That's been my experience. I'm barely past the six-month mark. I could gulp a lot of water before my second fill, but now that I'm pretty restricted, I can't. And I have to be careful not to take a big drink before lying down. Tip: I always carry a 32-oz. plastic water bottle with a built-in straw so that I can sip all day.

I hereby vow not to read any more threads, new or old, on the subject of moderators, false identities, rumors, threats, etc. I too like and admire people on both sides of the divide, although I haven't met a single one of you in person! For the record, I have received a few PMs but not a single one threatened me or anyone else. I don't know or care about Bigchix; to be honest, I don't even remember what the posts much less the current pointed fingers were about. I'm cranky and tired and I'm walking away from this mess, but not from LBT or anyone here. Hatfields and McCoys, Yorks and Lancasters -- it never ends well. See you on another thread sometime, I hope.

Wonderful post, Jack. Thank you.

Laura, your Pug is just too cute! If you are ever in Chicago in May, you must go to the annual Pug Party -- it started as a Pug Crawl from bar to bar but got so big over the years that the organizer has to rent a huge space. See www.pugparty.com. There's a big annual Pug event in LA too -- anything in the NY/NJ area? Chili, I couldn't find your dogs; couldn't get past the opening Dogster page. Thanks for the photos, everyone. Please note that Jenna (princess n thep) has had horrible news about her beautiful rescued greyhound and will probably put him down on Wednesday: see http://lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=5432&page=5&pp=15 and scroll down. Send kind thoughts and prayers their way.

I just celebrated my six-month bandiversary last weekend, and I realize that not only my body but my mind and spirit have undergone changes since I hopped on the plane to Monterrey last August. Lots of bandsters way more experienced and knowledgeable than I have posted eloquent accounts of how their lives have changed with the band. I'm not going to attempt anything that profound. I thought I'd just share a bit with those of you who either haven't been banded yet or have recently undergone surgery, since those of us whose bruises have faded -- speaking for myself, anyway -- often forget the state of mind we were in early in our band journeys, and although I can't say my experience is typical, it might get you started on thinking where YOU might be in half a year. I won't bore you with my long history of fat; all you really need to know is that I had high blood pressure, back and joint trouble, and needed to lose about 100 lbs. I have been on just about every diet out there. I was one of the early Atkins guinea pigs in junior high in 1970 and gagged down liquid protein not too many years later, so that gives you an idea of where I started. I could lose lots of weight quickly, but I'd just put it back on, and last summer I was feeling like a big fat middle-aged failure. If 95% of dieters fail, and I had failed after 100% of my previous diets, what was the point? I felt there was no way out, and as much as I tried to adopt a fat-positive attitude, I knew I'd look and feel better thinner. But between my own weight-loss history, the daunting statistics, and the photographs of my four hefty great-grandmothers, I felt there was no hope. A couple of years ago I went to a seminar on RNY surgery -- gastric bypass. A woman who lost over 200 lbs. talked to us and was very inspiring. We were given body mass index (BMI) charts; a doctor told us that if we had a BMI of 40 or more, we'd be candidates, and would probably have the costs paid by insurance. I was a 39. I went up to the doc after the seminar and jokingly asked him, "What if I just gain enough weight to get to 40?" He rolled his eyes and said, "You wouldn't be the first one." When I realized that I was seriously considering getting fatter just to allow someone to cut my stomach open, I knew I had to do something. So, like you, I discovered the Lap-Band, and started reading everything I could find. Meanwhile, I lost 25 lbs., gained 22, lost 20, gained 25 -- you get the idea. Last June I went to the Grand Canyon for the first time. It is a majestic natural wonder, and I looked forward to long hikes. But I kept getting winded after just a few yards, and that was in the flat section. I also was very self-conscious when the crew of the tiny plane we flew to the canyon had to shuffle the seating arrangements to balance my considerable weight. That did it. When I came home, I got serious about the band. Despite my weight-related conditions, my insurance wouldn't cover the procedure. I decided I would find a well-respected surgeon I could afford, even though that would mean outside the US, and pay with my home equity loan. I was remodelling my kitchen; why not remodel my body? I won't say much about Dr. Rumbaut in Mexico, whom I chose because (1) he was highly experienced, (2) he's a bandster himself, and (3) I speak Spanish so I'd do fine in Mexico whereas I would be clueless in France & many other places. I'm not a shill for his practice, but I'm happy with my decision. There are enough doctor threads on LBT and elsewhere that offer lots of info about the various docs so that you can choose what is best for your situation. Lots of people had posted on LBT saying things like, "I just got a surgery date in three months!" so you can imagine my shock when I was told an appointment was available two weeks after I called. I hung up the phone, shaking. Those next two weeks were rough because I became totally obsessed with the band; I couldn't think about anything else, but I wasn't yet ready to tell anyone about it. I felt my upcoming surgery was a secret known only to Dr. R, LBT, and me. (By the way, there are threads here like "My Secret Lapband" that address the issue of whether, when, and whom to tell, with people weighing in -- no pun intended -- on all sides.) I decided to tell a few friends, and told a couple of family members as soon as I got back. But I went to Mexico alone, against the advice of a number of LBT members (although I did pay attention to their packing suggestions and travelled extremely light). I barely slept the three nights before my trip, and the night of my arrival I tossed and turned, wondering if I was doing the right thing. All I can tell you is that the anesthesia was a big relief because I got the first real rest I'd had in 96 hours. From what I've read here, that's pretty common. A combination of fear and excitement -- in my case, mostly the latter -- makes it hard to relax. I won't write much about the actual surgical experience; I posted extensively here right after it happened, and if you're curious you can see thread no. 2959. Let's just say I was bruised and sore, and as I stiffly rolled to one side to relieve pain coming from the biggest incision, I was really wondering what on earth I had done to myself. However, I'd had two major surgeries before, and in my medicated fog I remembered that this is just part of the recovery. Some people are hungry as soon as they come to. I was one of the lucky ones, if that's the right word, who had no appetite, so I wasn't bothered by the liquid diet restriction because all I wanted was water. (This from someone who wolfed down a half-rack of ribs the night before surgery.) I stayed overnight in the hospital and made the most of the IV painkillers. Despite my misgivings, after having surgery on a Thursday I flew home on Saturday and went back to work on Monday. Let me tell you, this is not a great idea. I know some bandsters feel fine after just a few days, but I wish I had taken a week off. I wound up working half days that first week; luckily my boss (who knew I was gone for a medical procedure but didn't know what) was wonderful, very understanding and flexible. If your boss doesn't fit that description, arrange well ahead of time to take some days off if you can. I also got a reprieve from the office's strict corporate dress code that first week and was allowed to wear a floor-length polyester dashiki! I don't know how I would have managed if I'd had to wear suits; I couldn't stand anything touching my incisions. Back home, I finally got the courage to look at my belly. Yuk! The incisions were small, but I was purple and yellow from the bruising. It faded in a couple of weeks. And I started to lose weight. I've taken up a lot of space with the early surgical stuff. I was one of the lucky ones who lost some weight in the first four weeks; mostly water, probably, but I didn't care. After a month people started to notice that my face and ankles were thinner. (My butt was as big as ever, unfortunately.) My appetite came back, but I managed to keep the hunger demons at bay during the liquid and mushy phases of the first four post-surgical weeks. The biggest change for me, though, was mental. From one month before surgery to one month after I had gone from desperation to hopefulness. I felt I was taking charge of my body, and even though I was sore, I was confident I would succeed. It was LapBandTalk that provided much of that confidence; I read posts from people who had experienced the same problems I had as a newly banded patient, and they'd reassure me (or whoever asked) that we were OK. The doctor gave me helpful post-op guidelines, my friends and family were terrific, but it was fellow bandsters who kept me propped up and encouraged. Flash forward a few months to late 2004: the holidays and all the food and nuttiness that comes with them. I had had one fill about seven weeks after surgery from a local protege of Dr. R, but didn't feel much restriction. I'd managed to lose about 30 lbs., mostly from plain loss of appetite after the surgery. People were noticing a difference in my shape, though. I joined an LBT exercise challenge and was determined to exercise for an hour each day -- in my case, nothing more complicated than walking the dog. I was able to walk faster and longer without getting tired. I was on sort of a weight plateau at 230-ish pounds, but I knew I would break through it, and I also knew I could gobble my mother's delicious Christmas cookies without feeling like a hopeless loser. I lost only 2-3 lbs. in the last six weeks of the year, but considering I had always gained at least 10 lbs. every Christmas over the last 20 years or so, I knew I had achieved a victory. Now it's March. I am an impatient sort; even six weeks after my surgery, I found myself thinking, "I'm working really hard at this. How come I'm not thin yet?" I've lost an even 50 lbs. in six months (261>211). But sometimes I look at my still-large self in the mirror and sigh. Still not thin! Something has changed, though. I've given away a lot of my too-big clothes, secure in the knowledge that THIS time, I can do it, with the help of the band. (I have a wardrobe from size 12 to 24; I couldn't bring myself to get rid of my "thin" clothes, ancient as they were, yet experience taught me I shouldn't be too hasty to get rid of the biggest sizes or I might regret it.) When I look at the before-and-after pictures on LBT, I'm further encouraged. I'm buying only the cheapest replacement clothes ($3.97 for marked-down cords at Old Navy!) because I really believe that my current body, while definitely an improvement on last year's model, is still temporary. I may not make my goal of 160 lbs., which I haven't seen for, oh, 35 years. I have been fat my whole life, and I've abused my body with funky diets and bizarre exercise programs for so long that I have no idea what size or shape my body wants to, or can, be. I got down to 170 for a couple of weeks about 12 years ago, and if that's where I wind up, I'll be happy. I'm trying not to fixate on numbers, but it's hard for someone who's had weight as a lifelong issue. Any problems? Well, I do PB more than I should. That's "Productive Burp" -- it happens to us bandsters with restriction, when we eat too fast and/or don't chew well enough, and the food can't get past the narrow opening created by the band, so it has nowhere to go but up -- out of your mouth. It's nasty. And I miss steak, thick, juicy, rare... oh, don't get me started. Before surgery I remember wondering if I'd ever eat like my old self again. Well, since I've had restriction from my last fill, I sure can't pig out the way I used to, but I can eat most foods, including the desserts that I love. I'll stop rambling now. I just wanted to encourage everyone who's just starting on their band journey. If you're really ready to make a change, the band is a great tool. Yes, you have to go through the pain (and expense!) of surgery, but six months into my banded life, I have to say it's definitely worth it. If you're considering the band, learn everything you can; LBT is a great resource. If you're newly banded and having problems, first, don't hesitate to check with your doctor if you think something's wrong, and second, know that it does get better. Really. You'll not only lose weight, you'll gain confidence and hope. I never thought a home equity loan could bring me that.

Oh, Jenna, you are going through one of the hardest things on earth. I know, because I had to put my beloved old Labrador down after multiple illnesses, including lymphosarcoma (which was in remission). Take care of yourself and give yourself all the time you need to grieve. No one could possibly begrudge you an entire carton of cigarettes at a time like this. Jeter is a beautiful dog and I am sorry he is so sick.

Nancy, if you save the e-mailed JPEGs to your hard drive you can upload them. Let's see your new pup!