kellygirl13

HI, Everyone! I"m Kelly, age 48, and I live in KS. Married to a great guy. Have 2 sons: 25 and almost 17. And, I became a "Nanna" for the first time in October......sweet little grandson (yes, I"m surrounded by men!). I was banded in mid-March, '07, and I"ve lost 60 lbs. I'm hoping to lose 30 - 40 more. I haven't had a fill for several months.....just didn't really need one. I have an appointment scheduled for a fill in about 1 1/2 weeks....I've been a little bit hungry, so it's time. I'm hoping to hit 70 pounds by my bandaversary. I have a 10 cm / 4cc band, and I"m currently at 2.25 cc. Looking forward to getting to know you all! Kelly

It sounds like a fill is just what you need! And, it sounds like you've done well thus far. Way to go! Kelly

Congrats, Alexandra! Wishing you the BEST in your new job and with your new band! :-) Kelly

Zannie~ I admire you for wanting to work on your marriage, and I truly do hope that it works! Please, though, don't throw away the emails you've collected, or the journal, or any of the "evidence" you have. Those things could be invaluable to you with a judge in the event that the reconciliation attempt doesn't work. Given all that has transpired, it is pretty unrealistic and "Poor advice" in my opinion, for your therapist to be telling you to "trust". You can be open-minded and open to saving your marriage, but you must also be realistic and "hope for the best but be prepared for the worst". That means holding tightly to the emails, your journal (and keep writing....it can be very cathartic!) AND continue to take care of business (getting your medical, dental, etc. things done and paid for, AND buying the grocery gift cards - and maybe some gasoline gift cards, cards from your favorite clothing stores for you and kiddos, pharmacy gift cards, etc. and stash them away in a very safe place.) I'm not trying to be pessimistic......just realistic. A year ago, you would never have dreampt that you'd be in this situation. It is always best to be prepared and there is nothing wrong with looking out for yourself. If everything turns out OK, you can have an email-burning party in about 10 - 15 years. But, in the meantime, your husband, if he truly wants to save your marriage, has to EARN back your trust. You are not obligated to give it blindly. Please, take care of YOU and your kiddos! Blessings to you! Kelly

It's good to hear from you, Zannie. I'm just sorry the news isn't better. I am really glad to hear you're getting some good advice regarding your home, what to do and not to do, etc. Unfortunately, at this point, the bottom line is you have to do whatever you must to protect yourself and your children. Keeping you in my prayers! Kelly

Hi, Sweetpea! First, congratulations on getting your band and your 13 pounds GONE! :-) Now, for your question: I would never suggest that anyone go against the prescribed plan that their doctor gives them. But, having said that, I can tell you that there are quite a few differing views on how fast to progress the post-op diet. By week 3, I was already on mushies, as prescribed by my surgeon. I have followed his "rules" almost to a "T". I have had no complications or problems. And, I know for a fact that many surgeons do have their patients on mushies by weeks 3 or 4, and their patients do fine. Best wishes to you! Kelly

I was banded on 3/16/07. I, too, had always consumed lots of Water with my meals. Since I knew this was going to be a challenge, I started the "no water 30 minutes before, during, or 1 hour after meals" routine even before I got my surgery date. I figured there would be enough challenges and changes to deal with after the actual surgery, so I made as many changes as I could before surgery (like no carbonated beverages, chew, chew, chew, etc.) I found it very helpful once I had my surgery that I had started forming those habits early. Once you get used to it, it just becomes second nature. But, as soon as that hour is up, I've got a full glass of something in hand! :-)

I had my surgery done 3/16/07 in Overland Park, KS (suburb of Kansas City), and I was self-pay, too. The price you quoted is almost exactly what I paid. It includes all fills / follow-up for the first year. Personally, I think it's important to have one's surgeon close by. But, whether or not to go to Mexico is a personal decision that you must make. Just be sure to do your homework, and be sure to realistically weigh the pros and cons. Wishing you all the best! Kelly

I had my band 3/16/07 - age 47 at the time, now 48.............perimenopausal, for sure. Down 42 pounds, and very happy. Go for it! And, good luck! :-)

I was banded on 3/16/07. Just had my third fill yesterday (7/6) for a total of 2cc. Down 40 lbs. total. Haven't had any pbing at all yet, which is a good thing, I guess! :-)

Congratulations, Jackie! :-)

Carbonated beverages in general, are not recommended. The carbonation puts a lot of pressure on the band. So, you can drink diet non-carbonated beverages, but nothing with the bubbles! Good luck on your consultation. Take a list of all your questions so you can be sure to get them all answered. Welcome to the list! Kelly

Happy Birthday, Karen! And, best wishes for a very successful surgery and a speedy recovery! Kelly

Hi, Anna! This sounds quite normal, since you haven't had a fill, yet. Everyone is different. Some feel restriction for a period of time without a fill. There is a girl in the support group that I go to who didn't have her first fill until 3 months post-op because she had restriction and was losing weight at a good pace without a fill. Another person in my support group didn't start losing weight until her third fill. So, everyone responds differently (and, certainly the band size plays a part, too.) So, I'm guessing you're scheduled for your first fill in about 3 weeks or so? I know how hard it is to be patient, but truly the first 6 weeks after surgery is crucial for healing, so weight loss / appetite suppression is secondary. Just hang in there! Kelly

I was self-pay also. The surgeon I used is a Bariatric Society "Center of Excellence" surgeon, and to get that distinction, the program has to be "well-rounded": nutrition couseling, psychological evaluation, ongoing support group, the facility and surgeons have to meet certain criteria, including minimal "complication rates", must have performed a minimum of a certain number of procedures, etc.. All patients, insured and self-pay, must have psychological screening prior to surgery. It's just part of the package trying to ensure that the patients get the best possible outcome from the surgery.

I really like Amplify whey Protein powder. The chocolate mint is my favorite. I do like the chocolate, too, especially when I add 2 T. of Peanut Butter. The Amplify vanilla is good, also.....I add frozen berries to it in the blender. I do keep a small supply of Isopure "prebottled" in the grape and fruit punch, very chilled. Then, I find them to be "not too bad". I keep thinking I should put them in the blender with ice and try it like a slush......just haven't gotten around to it yet!

Hi! I was a little concerned when I went for my psych eval, too. The best thing I can say is to just be honest. There aren't any "right" or "wrong" answers. The psychological component to weight loss surgery is huge, and the psychologist and support groups are a big part of the "undergirding" of lapband success. If you're honest, then, if there are any issues that (s)he picks up on, (s)he can help you get it worked through, which will only help you succeed. I would say there are likely few true psychological "contraindications" to lapband surgery. It is more likely that there are things that could be stumbling blocks if they aren't brought out in the open and worked on. Wishing you the best! Kelly

Herbal "senna" tea (I got one at a Natural Foods Store called "Smooth Move"!) also can be helpful.

That is AWEWOME! I'm really happy for you! Kelly