lapbander081004

Hi, I was scheduled for 8:30 when I went in. Had to be there at 6:ooam. You pull up to the front of the hospital off of Moross Rd and can park there. When you go in the front doors The Same Day Surgery Center is right there on the left. I got out at 1pm the next day. I was in a little longer then most (Normally out by 9am) but I didn't get taken to x-ray for the swallow test until late. But that was ok with me. Had no plans LOL The people in that unit took very good care of me and they were all so bubbly. I had a real difficult time with the gas that they blow your stomach cavity up with. It got behind my lungs and when I would try to lay down I couldn't breath. SO I was sitting up all the time. When the nurse came in and told me I should lay down before I fall asleep and drop off the bed. I told her why I couldn't lay down. She told me I should have said something sooner. They brought in this real comfortable Lazy boy style chair and propped me up and I slept like a baby. By 6am the gas pains were gone on not pain or discomfort since then. And its not as nosey as other area's in the hospital. So it was very nice. I had a room all to myself. Your getting close and I wish you the best o luck. I know I can tell all I want and I won't get you to not feel uneasy but I'm the worlds largest baby and I found this experiance to be a cake walk. Hope all goes as well for you. greg

Karen, Your an inspiration to everyone. You have done a fantasitic job. And we all know its not easy. Your grandaughter is absolutely adorable. Looks like her grandma. But isn't she a but young to be shaving her head LOL she looks like my two boys. lol Keep up the good work Greg

Katie, Remember your only remodeling the house you live in its still you. Its good to see what you look like and no one here will ever look at it an say anything other then welcome. We all started out in the same boat. Good luck and remember don't get discouraged. It went on easy but comes off slower. But its a downward movement this time and no returning. Greg

Cort you won't find a better place to send you pre-surgery and post surgery then here. Not only are these people supportive they are just plan beautiful (proof of that is just look at my avatar LOL LOL). Delarar normally would have more to say but she just hosted a whole group of lapbanders at her home in Vegas over the weekend and I suspect if you were at here house now she is probably sitting at the computer...typed out Howdy from Veags and fell asleep. The woman has energy like no other. But it has to catch up to her sooner or later. I think we all had the same feeling you have about what was going on with us. You'll see here shortly that that will disappear soon after surgery. The people here wil be proof there is life after fat. Good luck and keep us posted Greg

Betty, Good luck and don't worry its all worth it. I'll keep you in my prayers on your surgery date and pray for a smooth proceedure and a fast recovery. Best of luck Greg

Way to go Betty... You on your way. Will keep you in our prayers for a smooth surgery and a fast recovery. Its really worth what you will go thru. Best wishes Greg

Best wishes for a speedy recovery for both of you. I have a black Lab mix and the life expectancy for them is 12. When she was 14 she had a cancerous tumor in the belly. Dr said she may not survive the surgery and if she did she was looking at several months of chemo. Surgery was $700.00 and chemo could cost up to $1,200.00. We we decide as a family that we didn't want her to suffer so I told them I'd bring her back in a week to be put down. Week came and I was in the parking lot of the vets with her licking my face as I was crying and saying good bye. Well after about an hour and no tears left I went in and made a surgery appointment for her. Doc got all the cancer and she didn't have to go thru the chemo. That was 4yrs ago and she is still running around here. Slowed down but has no pain and she still meets me at the door every morning at 7am when I get home from work. Things do work out. Well once again good luck and keep us posted Greg

Michelle, I spoke to Dr Meguid about drinking...He said beer has carbination and may cause problems. He told me to try it if I wanted by drinking one and if I tolerate it then I can drink it in moderation of course. AS far as liquor goes its not so much that you can't have it it just turns to sugar in your system rapidly and works against your weight loss. We shouldn't get drunk any faster cause the alcohol doesn't get into our blood stream until it passes out of the stomach. Only about 20% gets in thru the stomach. ASk the Dr they will talk to you about it. They are really great and will give you their opinion and leave it up to you. Good Luck Greg

Michelle, You have done a fantastic job and your looking very very good. And I agree with your tips. working for me. Good luck Greg

Darcy, It was tougher then most would know. I came to love that scale when the weight was falling off fast. But I just woke up and got on it and I lost two pounds since last Monday so it was worth it. I think I'll have no problems this week. Now that I'm in the 1 to 2 pounds a week loss range I won't get upset when I have 3 or 4 days of same weight. Michelle congrads on your loss even after all the partying. Penni I would have gladly given up several pounds to have been able to be in Vegas. You all looked like you had more fun then anyone could imagine. Well new week. I wish everyone the best and have to say it took courage for you ladies to get on scale after your weekend. But the damage isn't unrepairable. Well its my 30th annive. Wife is around here somewhere...see if I can catch her and burn off few calories. Later all Greg

Betty, Sorry wife keeps me pretty busy around here right now. Seems I let lots slide while I was always tired and lazy due to weight. Took any chance I could to put off physical labor. Today is scale day.. CAn't believe I have gone a whole week without getting on it. (wife can't either). At work now and when I get home I will weight after I get up from sleeping. Greg

There is no doubt God's finest creation wa woman. Greg

Michelle, It will all depend on how your surgery goes. I was banded on a Tuesday and back to work On Friday. I could have traveled and would not have had any trouble. Talk it over with Dr. if he has no problem with it and your doing well enjoy yourself. You probably will see him between the surgery date and your vacation date. Unles something happens in that time you should be fine. Greg

Well its over for now. I'll tell you it was just as exciting here as it was there. Looked forward to evertime I could open up the computer to check on new pics and stories. Delara you are a fantasic host to take this on. And you keep a hugh smile thru it all God Bless you. And as I said ealier and others have also said. Avatrs need updating. Ladies you all are gorgious and should be very proud of yourselves in the jobs you have done so far. Hope all had safe trips home and that the recouperation time isn't longer then the actually party time. Greg

Hi All, I know we're all here to lose weight and these Cookies won't help in that but I gave this to others in another forum and I was asked to post it here. Makes great treats for those who support us. 2-cups floor 1-teasp baking powder 1 1/3 cups sugar 4 teas cinnamon 1/2 cup softened butter or marg. 1/2 cup shortening 2 eggs 1-6oz package choc. chips 1/2 cup chopped walnuts preheat oven to 350 set aside 1/3 cup sugar, 1 teasp cinnamon, the whites from one egg, choc chip and nuts Mix the flour, baking powder, 1 cup sugar and Butter or marg, shortening and 1 egg and one egg yolk. blend well with wooden spoon or low on a mixer( I always hand mixed it all that marg & fat is good for hands lol). Spread this in a 9X13 pan (ungreased) Beat the egg white slightly and brush on mixture in the pan. Combine the sugar, cinnamon and nuts and chips and spread evenly over the egg whites. Bake 25. Greg

I got an idea for us newbees for the trip...Lets to to Vegas lol Good luck to all Greg

Becky. Had a great time and only eat a shrimp cocktail for dinner but did package what my wife didn't finish of her eggplant parmasian for my meal tonight at work. I liked that about donuts and cinnamon turning on a man. I was a cop for 26 yrs now I know why I was horney all the time LOL "Donuts a Cops Viagra" Ok here is the recp. 2-cups floor 1-teasp baking powder 1 1/3 cups sugar 4 teas cinnamon 1/2 cup softened butter or marg. 1/2 cup shortening 2 eggs 1-6oz package choc. chips 1/2 cup chopped walnuts preheat oven to 350 set aside 1/3 cup sugar, 1 teasp cinnamon, the whites from one egg, choc chip and nuts Mix the flour, baking powder, 1 cup sugar and Butter or marg, shortening and 1 egg and one egg yolk. blend well with wooden spoon or low on a mixer( I always hand mixed it all that marg & fat is good for hands lol). Spread this in a 9X13 pan (ungreased) Beat the egg white slightly and brush on mixture in the pan. Combine the sugar, cinnamon and nuts and chips and spread evenly over the egg whites. Bake 25. Shower and get ready LOL If this doesn't do It nothing will. Remember very small taste if you must. Not one thisn in there good for human consumption LOL Let me know how he liked them Greg PS :thanks Beety and Becky on the anniv wishes

Becky, Must have been jack who said that about Cinnamon, But I agree. I have a great recp. for Cinnamon Bars that will win any mans heart if your interest. Just not good for us anymore LOL. Take your whole days calorie count in one bar. Phew and to think I used to eat a dozen of them at one sitting. Wife and I are celebrating our 30th tonighht (befoer I go to work) and it will be my first resturant trip since surgery. Should be fun. Greg

Kim, I wasn't the camera that made the people look good it was the beautiful peole that made the camera's job so easy. We all Love the pictures. Makes this whole thing feel much warmer and real. Everyone there needs to update their avatrs cause they just don't do you justice. Have fun everyone and will keep popping in here to see if any new pics are posted. Greg

Marie, You a great inspiration. Your right on with everything you said. I forgot to mention how this turned out to be an unexpected financial savings. Don't buy the expensive junk food. We don't buy have the food we used to. A package of meat last longer. Before I didn't get up from the table till the food was all gone. Now its fork down and butt out of kitchn when I put in what I know will be comfortable until the next meal. Keep up the good work Marie Greg

Brenda, You have come to the right place. The people here will tell you what it truth and what is not. There is so much help and information that you will be excited to get banded and will be proud to be a lapbander and associated with these fine fellow lapbanders. I too have struggled with weight problems my whole life. In recent years I have developed sleep Apnea and have to use a c-pap at night to sleep. My pressure in this machine is 15pounds and that it high. They found during the study that I stopped breathing 477 times in an 8 hrs sleep. The Dr said I was a short distance away from death as I vertually was not sleeping and was wearing out fast. Since the c-pap I felt better but I did nothing other then wear the mask at nite to help myself. My knees also were crapping out and I was awaiting surgery on them.. Dr said it was the weight destroying the knees. A year ago Oct 11 my son married and when we returned from the wedding I realized after seeing the pictures and videos that I was in serious trouble. I knew then if I didn't do someting I'd not survive to see my grandkids(s)...and if I did survive there was no room for them to sit in my lap as it was taken up by the extra person I was carrying around. So i tried more diets and failed at them. Suddenly I noticed that a friend of mine at church was melting away. When I asked him how he was doing it he confided in me that he had a lap band put in. He does not tell people about it. I don't know why but thats he=is dedcision. So he gave me his Dr's name and I went to see him and that started me on my journey back to health. I started the pre op diet on 07/29/04 and was banded on 08/10/04 and in just over two months I have lost 61 ounds, six inches off both my waist and hips and 2 1/2 inches off my neck, I have been removed from the waiting list on the knee surgery and I now run 3 miles a day. I am being retested at the Sleep Center due to my neuologist believing I may no longer need to wear the c-pap to sleep. I had a lap and when I sit I am always placing things in it just because I can. This band was the best thing I have ever done for myself and in turn it has made everyone around me happy. Not only will my son Celebrate his 1st wedding anniv. on Monday but it also will be my 30th anniv maried to my wife. I now know I will have many more. (ok kids get t=with the programs and show me some grandbabies)lol. Good luck and keep us posted Greg

Becky, As a fellow lapbander I do understand what the band does but I am worried, Will I also want to dress up as a "Belly Dancer"???? Kind of hoping that urge pass buy maybe while I am sleeping some time. Of course if it hapens my friends will only say "Seen him do worse" lol The band has been a God Send to me and I wish everyone here a continued good healthy life. Greg

Hi Kelly, Welcome on board and good luck when you have your surgery. You'll find everyone here is extremely supportive and helpful.. Right now a good many of them are in Vegas and if you go to the tread titled Vegas Bass pictures you can see them. Where in Michigan are you from?? Greg

Ty For all the pics...Makes me feel like I'm there. Keep them coming. I've never seen so many pretty faces and big smiles in my life. Greg Stuck at work

Good job Shireen, I was expecting the fills to be painful but I didn't feel mine at all and the Dr had trouble getting in due to scaring from insicion. He poked me 4 times before he got in and I never felt anything. I have only had 1 cc so far but I noticed foods not hanging around in pouch again so I probably will seek anither fill. Keep up the good work Greg