Zoe

Thanks, everyone for your kind words about this post. I figured that since I've received so much help and support from LapBandTalk, the least I could do was write something that might aid someone behind me. Veronica, you're right about Dr. Horgan. When I first called, I was given the same $1000 quote. I think he made an exception for me because my surgery was performed by his mentor, Dr. Rumbaut (in Monterrey, Mexico). Queen, I second what Leatha wrote. I was a self-pay for surgery, so I'm a self-pay for fills. I went out of town almost immediately after I started this thread, and I wasn't sure what to expect. I don't seem too restricted yet, but I'm not inclined to pig out either. And I seem to tolerate bread so far; we'll see what the next days and weeks bring.

I love this growing list. Let's check in with each other in another six months and see how we're all doing. I'm getting a little closer to my first goal, because not only am I dropping a few pounds, the bros are all gaining!

Marie, an idiot savant is a person who is basically an idiot -- to use a no-longer-acceptable term -- but has at least one marked gift, often for something completely useless (for example, Dustin Hoffman's character in "Rain Man," and me) but occasionally dazzling (the kid shown on 60 Minutes not long ago, who was mentally handicapped but an absolutely brilliant musician, able to play anything on the piano after hearing it just once). Hope that helps.

Hi Jode -- I was in Australia for a couple of months back in 1986, including a week or two in the center (the usual tourist stuff: Alice Springs, camel riding, Ayers Rock/Uluru, which people were still allowed to climb then). If you're west of Alice Springs you must indeed be isolated. Where did you have your surgery and follow-up care? Stick around; there are a lot of interesting people on this board, and in the short time I've been visiting I haven't seen any flaming, name-calling, or other wacko behavior here. Just fun, helpful men and women, mostly American, who are incredibly supportive of each other. Welcome! PS: Betty, I'm not smart -- I'm an idiot savant.

Hey, we geezers want to be HOT again, too -- and I'm not just talking about flashes. You're never too old to strut yer stuff!

G'day, Jode! We Yanks only speak the Imperial weight system, never mind that the rest of the planet, including Pommieland, has given it up. FYI, 1 kg = 2.2 lbs.; 1 lb. = 0.45 kg. So your 110 kg weight = 242 lbs., and your 15 kg loss =33 lbs. Good on ya!

I'm not an experienced bandster, Pam, but I can tell by your stats that you're doing fine. Banded on 9/21, and on 10/14 you're 15 lbs. lighter . . . that's about five pounds a week, on average, even though from what you're saying most of that loss came early on. A lot of our initial loss with the band is Water. Those of us who routinely had puffy ankles, feet, and hands really notice this. Remember, no matter how little food you're taking in, your body just can't metabolize 5-10 pounds of FAT in a week. So why, then, isn't the scale moving, when you're not taking in many calories? I would guess that you've put back some water weight after the initial shock of the surgery. Your body, however, is still burning that nasty old fat. The net result -- water up, fat down, no change on the scale -- can be discouraging. But your body is quietly changing for the better. That's my nonscientific description of this phenomenon. I think I read a good medical explanation somewhere on this board, too. Hang in there!

My fluoroscope images. I had no idea what anything was -- with the exception of my giant spine, the shadowy column barely visible beneath the big black barium-filled blob at upper left (the lower part of that is my stomach pouch). Note the barium cascade, looking like a hairy black jellyfish.

The body-composition scale -- calculates not only BMI but the percentage of fat in your body and your basal metabolic rate (how many calories you burn just vegetating), among other things.

The fluoro machine. See that U-shaped device with the black circle attached to one arm of the U? That's where you stand, your back to the black circle. The fluoroscope in effect takes a picture of your body, with the black circle representing the lens area. The image of your body appears on the upright console.

Great news, Betty! Just think, the 18th is less than a week away. Try to distract yourself over the next few days -- it's hard not to obsess about the band and the upcoming surgery, but the time will pass, and you'll be banded in no time!

Let me second what everyone else has said about each person having different fill requirements. I blithely thought I'd get 1.5 cc, since that seems to be average, and so far I'm your average bandster. Nope! First I was injected with 1.4 cc, then as the doc and the technician watched the fluoro (which I couldn't see because my back was to the machine at that point), Dr. Horgan said, "Oh, that's too much. Let's take out .2." So he did. And here I am with 1.2 cc of saline in my Inamed band, which Dr. H said should give me good restriction. Even though they sprayed a "freezing agent" near my port -- I forgot to ask what it was -- I did feel the needle go in. It wasn't bad, though. The freezing agent really did feel cold, and it looked as if my belly had been in the back of a refrigerator that needed defrosting, little ice crystals and all! I'm on liquids for 48 hours, then onto the real bandster routine. I've moved the detailed description of the fill to a "Beginner's Guide to Fills" thread.

. . .well, not where no one has gone before, but *I've* never gone. I'm off for my first fill at 2 pm with Dr. Horgan, right next to Bloomingdale's, so I'd better behave myself and come straight back to the office instead of shopping like a madwoman. I'm taking a camera with me and, if the doc has no problem with it, I'll take a few pictures & post them so other newbies can see what the experience is like. No fair laughing at my scars, though!

According to the guy's receptionist, he uses fluoro. If I can get a picture of my barium plumbing, I'll post it! Now I'm off . . . will report back, filled.

Hey DeLarla, I'm glad those jeans fit! It's great to have someone who doesn't have to hem my stuff. And those burgundy cords were mine, although the flowery shirt wasn't. What about the black velvet pants? They were probably too big for you, but maybe someone else got 'em. LisaGreen, I'll start a thread in the talk lounge later with a lyric sample, and you'll see why I'm not in LA or Nashville!

When I first signed up on this board, I discovered there were so many other Lisas (including two other Lisa Gs) that I decided to use the name of one of my other personalities! Zoe writes bad spoofs of song lyrics a la Allan Sherman, so I figured she'd be at home with this crazy bunch. That's my story, and my name, and I'm sticking to it! I divulged my secret agent identity when I sent DeLarla boxes of clothes, in case there was any problem with the delivery . . . now I'm going back underground as Zoe Fiasco.

That's great news, Brenda. You deserve a big pat on the back for following up with your doctor's office; someone less determined would have taken the insurance company worker at her word and given up. I think as more insurance companies realize that the Lap-Band can actually save them money since they won't have to shell out so much on heart medication and surgery, high blood pressure control, cholesterol blockers, insulin, joint problems, and apnea devices, they'll start to come around and pay for banding. Good luck, and let us know what happens next. We're all rooting for you.:banana

I walked around the park for about half an hour this morning with Sophie -- also got a great upper-body workout pulling 80 pounds of that crazy dog straining on the leash trying to get to the squirrels. The pedometer is great. It's helping to keep me on track, and it's fun to see that I really do move around some at my desk job, running around to my boss's office, the secretary's office, downstairs to the Fed Ex dropoff . . . and to the kitchen, where I missed the boxes of donuts yesterday. Hey, every little bit helps!

Sarah, when were you banded? That's an important bit of info. Let us know, and I'm sure you'll get a lot of advice!

I've read this thread with interest, because I'm getting my first fill tomorrow. I had pretty good restriction until about a week ago. I still have to chew my food very thoroughly, but it takes a lot more to fill my belly than during the first six weeks. Luckily a well-regarded local protege of my Mexican surgeon has agreed to do my fills, and to my relief the guy uses fluoro. (I'm not looking forward to the barium stuff, but I want to make sure everything's moving right along, and I have a macabre interest in my own medical procedures.) Thanks to all the info I've read here, I'm expecting everything to go smoothly with minimal pain. Thanks, Shireen, for asking the question, and to everyone else who posted here.

Congratulations! That's just two weeks away. If you have any questions, be sure to look at previous posts on this board, both in Introductions (where a lot of us have talked about the surgical experience), General Discussion, and the themed sections (Food, Support, etc.). I am so grateful for the frank information and opinions I received here. And if you have a question that hasn't already been addressed, just ask! We've all been where you are in your band journey, so you'll have plenty of help. Good luck!

Laissez les bons temps roller! But are we already too late to get hotel rooms for 2005? (That's one good thing about the pity party -- no reservations required.)

Count me in. I bought a pedometer yesterday & have walked 8,529 steps today. . . my goal is 10,000 steps at least three days a week. Walking is my main exercise; I'm going a little farther and a little faster these past few weeks. It's not only good for me -- the chunky dog is looking a little sleeker too, and loves spending more time outside during the height of squirrel season. In a burst of enthusiasm I bought two five-pound weights at Target. I know, I know, that's a wimpy size, but I have back trouble -- that's my story and I'm sticking to it. I dragged those weights into the house last night, then I realized that I was dragging double that before I was banded. This lesson was underlined when I tried to lift a 20-lb. bag of dog food -- and to think I was carrying that 24 hours a day. Just think of the bags of dog food all of us have lost since banding -- enough to fill a PetSmart! Maybe we need a bandster Olympics for all you budding athletes! My event of choice is a sweaty game of Scrabble.

Lots of us have posted threads on our Mexican experiences; check out old posts in the introductions & general discussion sections. Yeah, pack light, wear clogs & baggy clothes, and buy some good liquids for your pantry before you leave -- you probably won't feel like grocery shopping right after you get home. Good luck!

I feel weird writing on such a personal subject when I don't know any of the people involved, but I just can't help myself -- I'll try to shut up after this! (Yeah, right.) Lots of us had wonderful loving adults in our lives when we were kids -- adults outside the family who loved us and played with us and accepted us for who we were. Do any of you get all teary and sentimental remembering them? I sure do. And I know that whatever else Chloe is going to remember from these years, she'll forever have the memory of her kind and loving neighbors, not to mention the wild party ladies who came to visit and showered her with the most precious gift of attention and laughter. Chloe's little life may be a mess, thanks to her mom and dad -- but no one can take away her memories of the good times. All of you (especially of course DeLarla) are giving her some much-needed emotional nourishment, and that's what makes a real parent.