Big Wave Dave

Aloha Lynn I know just how you feel! I was so scared but I am so glad I did it. Was banded on 7/11/07 down 40 Lbs. Post Op. Then on 8/29/07 my DSW the most precious thing in the world to me, got her band. And belive me when I say if I hadn't of felt 100% comfortable with it I would not have let the doctor within 100 miles of my wife. All went well with both of us and were doing great. But we both read, read and read some more about the band and the procredure before deciding to have it done, and we asked a lot of questions. So my advise to you and your husband is to the same, read, ask questions and talk to a lot of people about the band , I mean people that have had the band, on this site you can get both sides, good and bad. Hang in there I wish you all the luck in the world, besides marrying my wife it was the best thing I've ever done. Aloha Dave

Aloha AndielmtYour doctor is so wrong ! I was banded on 7/11/07 and have lost 55 Lbs. Total, 21 per-op, 34 post-op. But I will admit there is a slight difference I'am a 50 year old male,and work out like I'am on fire. Please don't let your doc screw up your head. Some docs only want to do by-pass surgery, I think of that as cut'em and forget'em. As for traveling to a new doctor, let me tell you what my DSW and I go through. We live on the Island of Kauai, Hawaii and our doc is on Oahu, so we have to get very early, drive to the airport wait around for about 1 to 1-1/2 hours, fly to another island, then get a rent a car drive half way around Oahu see the doctor, drive back to Honolulu Airport and fly home late in the evening. (first/last flights are cheaper) and then drive home. So please drive to the new doctor, it will be worth it in long run, it is for us. Take care and good luck, and keep your chin upAlohaBWD

Aloha I'm Big Wave Dave, I live on the Island of Kauai and my job requires me to fly to mainland 3-4 times a year. I was banded on 7/11/07, I'm down 55 Lbs. and my last trip was a little better. But that doesn't help you now does it..LOL Well here are my travel trips for you, Getting and upgrade is quite expensive, Like about twice the ticket price, so that might not work. Check in early with the airlines and ask if there are any empty seats and if you ask real nice and they may give you a seat with no one next too you. Ask for an Aisle seat and but the arm rest up, sometime you can get a seat on the Aisle that both arms can fold up, that will give you a little more room. Get on line and buy yourself a seat belt extinsion. I got mine from SuperSizeWorld.com (or i should say my DSW bought me one) I've got the model "A" and I've never got on an airplane that it didn't work on. Also try and eat at the layovers if you have any, the food on the planes sucks and that's just one more things for people to talk about, "look how much that fat person is eating" and I can't get the service table down anyway. As for the bathrooms they are small but you can make it, I use the ones in the back of the plane, no sense giving the whole plane a show. Well I don't know what else to tell you, OH yeal but on your thick skin that day, some people are just mean and if you get the wrong seat mate they can make life difficult, they can always ask to me moved. Well Queenmama I wish you good luck and have a great trip and be safe. Make sure you go to the beach while your here, and don't say I can't I don't have a swimsuite, shorts and tee shirt works just fine, and my wife and my attuide is if they don't want to lookthey can turn there heads, and they will never see you again. Talk to you soon Aloha Big Wave Dave PS I just noticed you are 50, so am I, what a great age!

Aloha All Today I was in church and had to bend over the bench in front of me and forgot about my port. And ran my still big stomach over the back of the bench and man I saw stars. I wanted to say *&^% but you know I couldn't. LOL but it really hurt, it's been tender all day, a little better this evening. Well just wanted to share, I'm bored and just wanted to gossip.... Aloha Big Wave Dave

Aloha Carey I don't mean to sound mean but here goes, My dear sweet wife is having her surgery on the 29th. and I taking the week off. Does your husband know about the family leave act? I don't think he would get paid but it's only two days. I can't think of a job that is so important that I couldn't take sometime off to take care of my wife..I'm a man and I hear it all the time my husband can't take off work to care for me, well that's just bull@*$ he needs to be there for you, tell him from the "Big Wave" Dude you need to get'er done and be there for the Love of his life and the mother of his children Sorry to vent, it's just makes me mad Take care and God Bless you Aloha BWD

Aloha Ladies Go to GNC they have some really good Whey Protein Shakes, Cocoholat caramel, and Cookies & Cream there the best. Good luck with you pre-op stage, during mine I thought my head was going to explode. Aloha BWD

Way to go Chris, good luck with mushies, I had no problem with them and I'm now on reg. food and really watching what I eat but it's all good again good luck BWD

Aloha hford Well as for the food, the small portion size is correct, at a meal you will eat about 1/2-3/4 cup of food. I can eat a little more than that right now, I'am 4 weeks post-op and have no restriction but I really watch what I eat. I try and take small bites and chew-chew-chew, because when I get my fill I don't want any problems. As for the Water you will need to drink a lot of it about 64oz. a day, I do use crystal light and these sugar free juice packets from Wal-Mart, I hate water no taste. There is a lot of thing that freaked me out to about the band, no drinking 1/2 hour before meals, no drinking 1 hour after meals. I thought they have got to be kidding, but I now can do it with out even thinking about it, thats just the way it is. I do encourage you to read alot of the threads here there is a so much information here some will be very useful and some well lets just say you might have to wade throught a lot of poo to find the pearl's I hope I may have helped, I'm a 50 year old male and my views or openions might be a little off base. But getting the band was the best thing I ever done, besides marrying dear sweet wife who will be getting her band on the 29th. of this month. I started this trip at 398 Lbs. and have lost 46 Lbs. I was banded on the 11 July, 2007. Good luck best wishes and may God bless you Aloha BWD

I Love the stuff and have been able to eat it, not to much it kind of plugs me up I know TMI but just wanted to put in 2 cents worth. Aloha BWD

Aloha Great Job, thinking of walking program. I guess my DSW and I have gotten one going for us. We started out on the tread mill at 20 Min. per day, and have increased it 5min. per week. We just went to 45 min. today, WOW that was a killer, also while on the tread mill I increase the incline 1% every 5 min. and by the end your really working it. It is so much fun having my wife there by my side it really makes it easier. Aloha and keep up the good work. BWD

Has anyone heard of a VG 7.5cc band? Thats what my doc said that I have. BWD

Aloha Star Jones comes out about RNY, Now I ask you is there any one the planet that saw her before and after who didn't think that she had Surgery? I mean I'm OK that she had it thats her business, but come on did any body reaally think she lost all that weight by just going on a diet? I'm a 50 year old man that tells people when they ask "WOW what diet are you on" I tell them about my band code name "Harvey". I guess I'm just very secure with myself, OK enough venting. I really am happy for her and wish her all the best, I know that she will be healther. Aloha BWD

Aloha All My doc. said that my VG band was only 7.5cc has anyone ever heard of 7.5cc VG band? I thought the VG band were all 10cc's please advise. Aloha BWD

:help: Aloha My Dr. said that my band is a 7.5 cc VG band. But I see other people talking about there band being 10 cc VG band. Has any one heard of a 7.5 cc VG Band? Looking forward to getting you feed back Aloha BWD

Aloha No my dear I'm sorry to say that Diet Coke is gone forever. I know that Diet coke had to slow down production after I got my band, because I was a Coke-addict. A little story about how bad I was, I told my DSW that I had to give up DC before my band. So 1-1/2 Months pre-op I decided that this was the way I was going to do it, I was going to count how many I had a day and cut that in 1/2 45 days and so-on till 1 week pre-op, well when I found out that I was drinking 14 DC aday!!!! I quite cold-turkey " and lost 8 Lbs." it was hard at first, I thought my head was going to explode but it didn't and I haven't really missed it. So if I can do it I know you can. Take care and good luck Aloha BWD

FAILURE is Not an option.... We can do this, it will get easier I hope, I'm 3 weeks post and really have to watch, I could eat the south end of a north bound mule. At the end of the day I look back and say I really messed up today, and then I think, wow I had total for the whole day of maybe 3 cups of protein and maybe some SF jello maybe a V8 or 2 and some cottage cheese, and 8 glasses of water. And then I think OMG I used to eat more than that between breakfast and lunch add on dinner and then the grazzing after dinner, and the 14 diet cokes. See my point, yeal we might blow it sometimes but nothing compared what it used to be. Hang in there I know it will get better. You all are in my prayers. Aloha

Yes on the eggs, (try eggbeaters there not bad) and NO!!! on the beer. Sorry dude, I can only imagine. I'm a Mormon so the no beer thing wan't a big deal for me...LOL Aloha BWD

Aloha No I'm Mushies going to soft food this week, all is going great. Started doing some crunches today at the gym, felt good no pain at all. Up to 40 Minutes @3.0-3.5 on the tread mill, I'm glad I did the band, can't wait to get my first fill, hope I get a little more restriction. But doing OK for now. Aloha BWD

Aloha I'm 18 days post-op and my port site is really good, No swelling and the pulling pain has stopped I don't exactly but it's good now. Just hang in there it get's better every day. take care it will all work out. Aloha BWD

Aloha Kero Please don't back out, I'm 2 weeks post-op and down another 20 Lbs. for a total of 41. It was the best thing I've ever done for myselft, wait forget myself the best thing I ever done for my wife and kids, because hopefully I'll be around a lot longer and can take care of them and be a better husband, father and a healther one to boot. So please hang in there and go ahead and get it done. Aloha BWD

Band Chick Thanks for the post, it's like my brother always said "Fat and Ugly can be fixed but stupid goes all the way to the bone" Aloha BWD

Aloha Steve I've being thinking about one of your questions. Do you miss having a big stature? let me tell what I was thinking, my DSW is getting her band on the 29th. of Aug. and I think I'm going to miss her size, she is 5-1 and about 230 Lbs. She is the Love of my life and the most beautifull and sexy women I know, I've always told her that God only made a few perfect women and the rest he made skinny. I mean I'll Love her no matter what size she is, and I know that this is the best thing for her health. I'm just going to miss having a lot to hold to and watching the jiggle. Just wanted to vent and let someone know how I'am feeling about this. Aloha and take care BWD

Aloha It may have bubbles in the food. Did you drink your soup using a straw? I think your just fine. First night post-op I turned over on side and thought I had pulled a stitch too, freaked out and called the doctor the next morning and he checked me out and I was just fine. He said that if you ever do pull a stitch you will know it, I guess that means it will hurts so bad you will want to kick your dog LOL. Aloha BWD PS I would never kick my dogs they are way to cute.

<p>Aloha Steve</p> <p>There is no stupid questions here. I just got my band on the 11th. of July and I'll share with you how it has been for me. I'm a 50 years old, I work in a office so there maybe some thing that are different than your situation. </p> <p>1. Why Mexico? So people that are selfpay go there because its cheaper.</p> <p>2. Yes, you have to keep your protein levels up and take a multi-vitamin. But I've heard that the hair will grew back if it falls out once you get the vitamin thing under control.</p> <p>3. A fill is where your doctor will add fluid to your band via a port that is placed under the skin. The fluid is saline (check the spelling on that one)</p> <p>4. Had mine done on Wed. afternoon and felt OK, went home on Thursday and was doing OK, no pain meds other than OTC Liquid Tylenol, the gas pains were the worst part. Felt like someone had stuck a air hose up my butt and filled my stomach cavity up with air. Hey wait a minute that is exactly what they did except the did it in front and they used Nitrogen. by Saturday went to the mall with the wife and watched a movie. and back to work on Monday after going to the gym for 35 minutes on the tread mill </p> <p>5. No much after care just do what you feel like, but remember if it hurts stop. Keep drinking the water and getting your protein.</p> <p>6. No Psycological effects here, I've always been a nut case.</p> <p>7. Not yet, but I think I might because being big has become me, its who I am. thus the name Big Wave Dave. I kind of like being the big guy in the room, I am 6-2 tall and weighed 398 Lbs. Curently 364 Lbs. with a large bone structure. But had to do it for my health. My dear sweet wife will miss my size more than me, she said she like the feeling of comfort that my size gives her. She is only 5 ft. she said that when we go out she just feels safe, who will ever understand the mind of women. </p> <p> </p> <p>So my friend I hope this will answer some of your questions if have any more just give us a shout and will try and answer them the best we can.</p> <p>Aloha and God Bless</p> <p>BWD</p>

Aloha Jano I got my band on the 11th. of July and was in the gym on the 16th. for 35 min. on the thread mill and have gone everyday except on Sunday (had to go to church). I was told to go 5-6 days aweek, will be starting my weight training on Monday the 30th. Nothing heavy for a few more weeks just trying to get a head start and tone up. One thing that is really helping me is my dear sweet wife will be getting her band on the 29th. of Aug. So the support is there and going to the gym and taking walks with her is the best ever. Well good luck and go for it Aloha BWD