Laurienj

HAPPY BANDAVERSERY TO MY FELLOW BANDERS CELEBRATING TODAY. WHAT A DIFFERENCE A YEAR MAKES. ONE YEAR AGO TODAY I WAS FLYING TO MEXICO BY MYSELF WITH ONLY TWO PEOPLE KNOWING WHAT I WAS DOING TO HAVE THIS DONE. EVEN MY KIDS DIDN'T KNOW. SINCE I HAD IT DONE THOUGH I'M A "BLABBER MOUTH BANDER". IN OTHER WORDS EVERYBODY KNOWS. I'M ACTUALLY QUITE PROUD OF THIS AND WOULD RECOMMEND IT HIGHLY. I HAVE 20 MORE POUNDS TO LOSE AND I'LL GET THERE THIS YEAR. LAURIE :thumbup: BANDED AT 205 TODAY I'M 150

Thanks guys for the 5 day info. It looks like something I an pull off. I loved the reference to "the sliders" . That's exactly the pitfall I've found. I realized that ice cream doesn't hurt so I've been overdosing on it. Even though I haven't gained any, I haven't lost either so I need something to kick start me again. Remember last year one of us had kept that really cool schedule of when we were going for our surgeries. We should do something like that again as a kinda "brag book" of what we accomplished on our bandaversery dates. Laurie

Oh my God Delo you look so great. Congratulations

No What is the 5 day?

Hi all, I haven't been on in awhile. Yes Melissa, your words were so inspiring. Here we all are at our bandaversey and we've come a long way in a year. My thing too is the way it takes so long to eat. I'm an ER nurse so I get into trouble if I try to eat something too fast. Yesterday we had soft pretzels. I just ate a small piece, but I ate it so fast that I was in the bathroom with terrible pains and sort of dry heaves. It's hard to remember that I can't eat like I used to. You would think I would learn but I don't. One of the girls at my job keeps me in perspective. She had her band in 2005. She is very thin now. The thing is though, it has taken 2-3 years to get there. So we will get there. She's not really a ball of fire so I know she isn't running 5 miles a day or anything. As a matter of fact, I can't believe what she can pack away in a day. So my point is - it will come. Laurie Banded May 17th 2007. Lost 52 pounds 15 to go.

I felt better reading your posts. I know that my band is probably too tight. I've leveled off on weight loss but I know that's beause I've figured out that ice cream doesn't hurt so that's what I live on. Anyway, for the last month I've had three episodes of what I think is reflux during the night like you had talked about. I also want to add that it was after eating or drinking (iced latte) prior to going to bed. I woke up having a coughing fit and actually coughing up a bit of brownish sputum (gross). Prior to this surgery I didn't have reflux or heart burn and for that matter wouldn't have been able to cough up sputum if my life depended on it. It's a darn good thing I'm single because it wouldn't be very charming sleeping next to me these days. The most recent incident happened last night and I'm worried about that sputum thing. I have an appointment with my doctor but have you had this type of thing happen. I'll take the advise of not eating or drinking after 7:00 pm and see how that works. Laurie My bandaversery is May 17th. It'll be one year and I've lost 55lb. I really only have 15-20 left to go. Yeah.

You know it's hard when we have these procedures (and age like we are) because everything we feel becomes a big deal. Here's my Registered Nurse thought...your uncomfortable feeling in your throat may not have any direct link to your banding. It just might be a strain or something viral. See your regular doctor. I don't want you to stress over this. It sounds like otherwise you're coming along good with everything. How about this one. I have a hernia! What the heck. I was doing the same thing -thinking how did me having this surgery cause me to get a hernia? I had to give my head a shake and realize it was just bad luck. Great- going under the knife twice in one year. Maybe I could talk the surgeon to do a "tummy tuck" while he/she's in there. :whoo: Anyway - I'm guessing that your ok and this is something simple with no relationship to the band. Hope I helped. Laurie

Sue 11 - You are doing great. Try not to get frustrated. Take a look at your ticker. That's a heck of a lot of progress it a very short time. You should be so proud. I know it's hard. Before this last fill, I didn't think I could go much longer on willpower alone. Hang in there. Laurie

Geez I just realized I got a little carried away with the word "though" in my last post. I slid about 4 of them in. Laurie:heh::whoo:

Ragdoll - I think it may be a possiblity of the tight thing. I am getting down my protein drinks and mushies. I want to hang in there as long as I can though. Thanks though for your good advise. I'll just hope it gets better. I know that I can't go forever though on a liquid diet. I dream of a hamburger or how about a filet mignon. Well lets face it - it's too many of those that got me in this mess in the first place. I stayed away from frosties today though. I was a good girl today. Laurie

Raysbabe Boy Ray must be proud of you now. You look awesome. Like Wenjea says - you don't even look like the same person. Wenjea, Thanks so much for the ice cream talk. I so needed somebody to kick me in the butt. I need to go back to chicken broth and things like that if I am having trouble. Thank you thank you. Laurie

I had my second fill on August 17th. I now know what this slimming thing is. I wasn't in as much agony as some of you but man it hurts. I'm having a hard time with pretty much everything except liquids. You would think I would be losing weight hand over fist but only 5 pounds since the fill. Unfortunetly, because I can only do liquids, I lean towards frostys because they are cold and feel good. I'm vowing to not do that tomorrow. Wish me luck. The pain of stuck food is really bad and a bit scarey. Laurie

Mine was this morning too. I am week six yesterday. It really was quite painless and it feels good to have restriction again. I had lost 22 lbs but had frozen at that in the past few weeks. So I guess I'm on my way again. Yea

I went to Dr. Raul Chapa in Monterrey, Mexico. I'm an RN so I can tell you this was the best experience ever. I agree that the hospital's are so much better (the ones we go to are private). I was treated like gold, put up in a beautiful hotel. My physician came to the hotel to see me both days. I spent the first night in the hosptial. Unbelievable care. I would go again. There wasn't a negative thing about it. I'm one month out and down 20 pounds. I get my first fill on Friday. I am using Fill Centers USA. They are a really good organization. I made followup arrangements with them even before I went to Mexico. I also recommend them highly. They were founded because a lady took her daughter to Mexico for the surgery and then had trouble finding a place to do fills in the US.

I so agree with you. If I could give any advise myself it would be don't be afraid of the hunger. You'll still have that. The idea is that you have a smaller container now to hold the food. Like mommalee says, you have to heal and start on the road to better and less eating. Also, like mommalee said you have to make what you eat worth while - high protien, low fat, etc. I hope we helped. Laurie

Hey Melissa O. I'm right across the river from New Castle, DE. I had looked into Chrias but I was too impatient, so I did self pay and went to Monterrey Mexico last Thursday to have the procedure done. I surely have no regrets.

I just wanted to clarify that I think your confusing centimeters with cc's or ml's. The size of the band is 10 cm not 10ccs . I received my card after the surgery. Laurie

Hi everyone, Good luck today to all having surgery. Back to the shoulder pain. I noticed that after my son's baseball games that the pitcher's run laps. Somehow that helps work out any pitching shoulder problems. I'm a nurse but don't know the physiology of that. Anyway. I was in agony yesterday and after I took that pretty agressive walk, the pain was gone. Well whatever the physiology is it works. Try it. Laurie

I'm now 6 days post op. For the past two days, I had the excruciating left shoulder pain that usually comes with a laproscopy procedure. This is really weird but I just took a long, kinda fast paced, walk and the pain is gone. It's something to try if you guys are having the shoulder aches. My band is a 10 and I did know the size because I was given a laminated card to carry in my wallet. The doctor gave me the "how to" booklet that came with my band. It kinda cracked me up because I thought it seemed sort of like the owners manuel that comes when you get a new car or computer. It sounds like everyone is doing great. How do you think we'll be in a month from now. I was reading some of the previous month threads to get a gauge on how we will feel in a few months. It sounds pretty upbeat. Just made some sugar free jello. That's my treat for later. Laurie

Hi all, I had my surgery in Monterrey , Mexico on Thursday. I flew in on that same day. They did my preop and wisked me off to surgery. I will tell you I hate surgery because I throw up but this was by far the best experience I ever had. The doctor is Dr. Raul Chapa. He and his wife are partneres in practice. They speak english well enough. The hospital was out of this world wonderful. I was so well taken care of. I have no pain only a little soreness when I move just right. I flew home today. I stayed the first night in their beautiful hospital and then Friday night and Saturday night I stayed in a hotel near the hospital. I pretty much slept all day Friday and a good deal of Saturday. I had a terrible headache but I came to Mexico with one and couldn't shake it. I finally woke up late Friday and it was gone. Get this- my doctor came to my hotel room to check on me everyday. I'm sticking to liquids and Dr. Chapa isn't as strict about the coffee thing and I had an iced coffee today with skim milk. It was awsome. Well enough babbling for now. Laurie

Hi all Nimblebean - I know you are doing so much work on this but would you move me to Thursday from Friday. I just got a call from the MD's office that they will do my surgery the day I arrive in Mexico. I'm getting there so early in the day and that will give me the weekend to recover there where the physician is. Thanks. I just don't believe this is happening. I have a sore throat and am taking antibiotics. I think it's viral. What a shock. The stress right now is at an all time high. Everybody know what I mean? Like Laurili, I'm a nurse too. I tend to worry about all things medical. I need to calm down. Best wishes to today's banders. Laurie

Best wishes to todays banders. You'll do fine. We're behind you. Thanks for adding me to the calender. Does anybody know why my ticker would have gone away. I made one and loaded to the site but now it's gone.:help: Laurei

Hi Please add me to the calender. I'm May 18th in Monterrey, MX.

Hi everyone this is my first time on here but my date is May 18th in Monterrey, Mx. I had to laugh at the bad dream entry because so am I. The last two nights I have dreamed that I have been embarrasingly drunk. In the first dream I went to work drunk with my pajamas on and stinking of liquer. I don't even drink. The dreams are really freaking me out. This is very stressful. I'm doing this on my own with hardly anyone knowing. Laurie

Hi everybody. This is my first entry on this site. You all seem like such a close nit supportive group. I'm having my surgery in Monterrey, Mexico on May 18th. I'm pretty nervous but I just keep reading and educating myself. I'm going to get my fills in Fill Center USA in Mount Laurel, NJ. It's about 30 miles north of me so pretty convenient. One thing that I have to say is that I have very little support in this. I have chosen not to tell people. My kids are too young and it would scare them. I'm so afraid of negative feedback because my mind is made up and I'm afraid it will get me down if people are negative. Does that make sense? Somehow I have to find somebody to tell so that if god forbid anything happened I could be reached. Hmmm. Anyway, I have a few weeks to work on this and maybe I'll come up with someone I can trust with my heart. My story is that I'm a New York State transplant and have lived here in Jersey for 10 years. I'm divorced but happily so. I always battled the pounds but stayed in pretty good shape until my 40's. I actually had my kids late my normal standards. I was 37 and 40 when I had them, I'm 50 now and have managed to get myself way heavier than I should be. So here I am. I'm an RN and live in south Jersey. I'm very contented with my life other than the fact that my weight is becoming an all consuming problem for me. Although I don't have medical complications I will if I keep this weight gain up like I have been. I feel like I'm being proactive. With young kids I need to stay healthy for a long time. Thanks for listening Laurie