maygoddess

Gosh...all I can say is "Me too'! I am total self saboteur...always have been. I have lost almost 95lbs..so far..and have at least another 40+ to go...I have NEVER been at a goal weight in my life..so I really don't know what I will end up..just a guess..but getting just below 200 has been a challenge. My body has not been below 200 in like 20 years...I WANT to get this last amount off..but I will grab crap on occasion.. Can't really say why..could be stress, boredom, happiness or just that I really like food and if I crave Peanut Butter M&M's, I wantthem darnit! Whenever I set a goal for myself, I tend to sabotago even more as I get closer to a deadline or the goal. I am also dealing with content of where I am now..I am in 12/14's..I can shop just about anywhere for clothes and feel healthy..I hate my belly and want a tummy tuck so I can better fit in bottoms., but otherwise I am happy about where I am at the moment. I also can relate to a previous post about dealing with a new smaller you..losing that much weight really is a person(hmm..I think I lost the equivelant of a Paris Hilton!!) and you do become more "visible" as you are smaller. It is amazing how invisible you become, ironically, as a larger person in society. More people say hello or smile at you when you walk aroun dthe grocery store even! I am amazed. I was never a wallflower who woudl look down and never smile at anyone, but just amazed how many people now actually SEE ME and acknowledge me! This can be wierd. I forget about my accomplishments now when people tell me I look amazing..I forgot the other day when some other homeowners saw me at our board meeting and asked what I have done to lose weight..it has been almost three years since I was banded and I have lost so slowly, I forget that I perhaps dropped another 5-10lbs since someone might have seen me and now it looks more noticable to them.. There are also days when I cannot get the "fat goggles" off and I look in the mirror and look just as fat as I did 95+ lbs ago..even as I am slipping on my size 12 skirt. I held that skirt up and thought..."wow, this is enormous"...but I cannot even remember what my size 28 skirt looked like! Where I am now seems enormous some days..other days, I feel these bones emerging all over my body and think how wierd it is to feel thes ebones that were buried under flesh and think" do skinny people marvel at their bones like this?" ANyway...this is all part of the process...I am glad, in a way, I have lost so slowly because my brain has had more time than usual to keep up with my physical changes..though it is such a strange and trippy ride most of the time.. okay..my 10 cents..sorry for the free flow..this one really just struck home. Patty 8/13/02 Dr Kuri -95 with about 40 to go?

When I come across this argument that wls is "copping out", taking the easy way out, cheating..whatever...I turn it around and ask them...what is more foolish..doing the same thing over and over again or stopping that insanity any way you can? I vote for stopping that insanity. I always say that if I was going to be in the 5% statistically that loses weight and keeps it off, I would have done it already..now in my late 30's..I am STILL in the 95% that loses and gains back..so why keep doing something that does not work and stop the insanity any way I can..which means WLS for me. What people don't understand about WLS is that they think "well if you just dieted and excercised, you could lose it"..well yeah..sure thing...but I didn't get this surgery to lose weight only..I primarily got it to KEEP IT OFF for good..stop the insanity of doing the same thing over and over again... I wouldn't call that "cheating"...just stopped being stupid! Patty 8/13/02 Dr Kuri -95 (not a lb gained back in almost 3 years! Yahoo!)

You know, Courtney..I SUCK at getting my fluids in..I know I need to..but dang..I just don't get thirsty and I forget! My bad! It does not seem to really effect how my weight comes off..what has really helped this last month is finally after 2 years..having some really great restriction! I stopped excercising AT ALL after doing it daily..and got two fills since September of this year..and have dropped 15lbs..NO excercise whatsoever during this time..only because I took on a 2nd job...and then a 3rd in december( all three of these jobs involved me sitting my a$$ all day at home in front of the computer) and had no time..so at that time..it was about the restriction. I don;t recommend to anyone to purposely stop excercise like I did..I hated that I couldn't get it done and all the great muscle tone I had is pretty much gone..so Ihave to start from scratch again..but like I said above..this journey will take you on many paths..you just have to learn how to go down each one to your benefit! You are doing great so far..it WILL work!! Patty

Just to add my story to this thread... I started taking thyroid meds about 6 months after banding(back in 2000) when I was in the middle of doing in vitro cycle. I was also seeing an acupuncturist at the time and going by some symptoms I had (cold hands and feet, sluggish in the morning, dry skin and hair) she suspect low thryoid. She knew my reproductive endocrinologist, so called her and suggested she run a TSH on me..the RE kinda balked at it but then agreed. It came back at 4.75..and at that time..the lab values known for normal range were .05-5.03 so I was considered high normal. Well..the acupuncturist still felt I needed some thryoid adjustment and wanted the RE to prescribe a low dose. In the meantime as they disussed it, I found an article at that time that said the Association of Cliinical Endos had just LOWERED the ranges of what is considered normal to .3 to 3.0..so I was really now in the "abnormal" range. Unfortunately..even though they changed this back in early 2003..many labs and docs still use the old higher values..so many people are really abnormal who could usehelp. So..I presented the article to the RE and then she started really thinking about it and that there are links between low thryoid and miscarriage and since Iwas undergoing an IVF, it was really recommended my TSH be between 1 and 2..so she finally agreed I shoul dbe on thyroid! She first prescribed Synthroid, but I had an immediate bad reaction..broke out in a rash on my stomach, headaches, dizzy..so she switched me to Levoxyl and I have been fine. SO..this was around April 2003. In June 2003 when the IVF failed and we decided not to move with more attempts..I needed to find a regular endo to care for me. The one I had seen in another county who treated me for my PCOS I hated. SO I found another endo and had him take over my "maintenance" I initiall saw him October of last year..he checked my TSH..he asked about my symptoms..and we agreed we would work towards keeping my thyroid in the 2 range..basically that kept me from not having cold extremities and not being sluggish in the morning and everything on even keel..so we tweaked with the dose..upping it, lowering it. I saw him again 3 months later..I seemed to be stable on the dose..and then he had me wait 9 months to see him again..I always go to the lab a week before my appt to get the TSH checked..we both get the results faxed to us (I always cc myself on labs so I can keep a copy of my own records!). I carry my results in just in case he didn't get his(he usually has it) and then we look at the results..any other tests he may have run for other issues..and then decide if the dose is still good. I see him again after a year unless I am feeling out of whack..and think I need a check. So..it is important to get checked on a regular basis..and weight loss can effect the dose..AND if you have been tested and are in the new "abnormal" range..talk to you doctor..here is the link to the article about the new ranges: http://thyroid.about.com/cs/testsforthyroid/a/newrange.htm Patty 8/13/02 Dr Kuri

Michelle gave some great tips! I definitely look at this band journey differently now than when I did 2 years ago when I was banded. I am still losing weight..slower than most..but I have learned about plateaus, "compacting", what a loose fill is like and what a tight fill is like. I have seen excercise speed up the loss, I have seen excercise do nothing extra at all to see lbs drop..there really is no exact science to how this works..just like regular "diets".. I would suggest ASAP, if not already, start taking measurements around various parts of your body. Get a tape measure and measure, bust, waist, hips, upper leg, calf and upper arm. Get someone to assist you if you need help keeping the tape measure in the same place generally each time. Record them and ONLY measure 1x per month. You will be amazed to see the inches drop when the lbs are staying the same. As far as excercise...I have always been told that for weight loss phase, you really need more than 3x per week..which is usually all you need to maintain your weight. My doctor told me at minimum 5-6 days per week while you are losing weight. This may vary depending on your age, weight, etc..but in general daily excercise is better to keep that metabolism up and keep up your calorie in vs calorie out ratio balanced. You do what feels right for you, but if you want to see the lbs drop faster..try revving up the excercise. Like Michelle said, wise food choices as well..soft foods will go through, though I do eat soup on occasion because I am restricted enough where soup even stays in my pouch all afternoon! Lastly...you will find this journey takes many paths..at least for me it has. SOmetimes it is all about the excercise..other times it is more about the restriction..and then it maybe I change up what I eat..you can go a few months doing everything as "perfectly" as possible..then hit a major plateau doing the same perfect things..wondering what the heck is up. Your body just likes to take rests from the loss and likes to stick to where it is. Don't freak out during those times..just either keep on doing what you are doing OR break it up a bit...change what you eat..change how you excercise..maybe eat a bit MORE calories and then drop down again..drink more Water..anything to shock your body back into weight loss mode. This really is a marathon..not a sprint..expect some rest time, expect some sprinting time..but overall enjoy the loss as it comes because you already are a big success!!! Patty 8/13/02 Dr Kuri

Hi all! I was asked to introduce myself, so here goes. I was banded in August of 2002 by Dr Kuri. I live in the San Francisco Bay Area(Napa area to be exact). My starting weight was around 285 and I am currently in the low 200's. My weight loss journey has been slower than most because I took about a 6 month hiatus from weight loss last year as I tried to get pregnant via in vitro. It didn't work and I got back on track..so over the 2+ years, my weight loss looks abysmal..but 75lbs down is nothing to sneeze at and I have not gained an ounce in two years, which really was my reason for being banded. I considered myself a foodie..I am not really an emotional eater as much as just loving good food. Living in Napa, we have access to the best wines and gourmet foods and food just taste good. I never liked diet foods, fake fats, fake sugars..so I eat all the real stuff, but in moderation. I don't do low carb, low fat, hi Protein or any of the other crazy extremes out there. Balance is really key. I know if I eat real ice cream, it slows me down, but I am willing to accept it. I make choices based on what I am willing to compromise and it works for me. I have no idea where my body will land at a "goal". I have been overweight my entire life and never dieted fully down to a goal weight. If I go by the height/weight charts, I would still have another 60+lbs to go..seems impossible, but we'll see. I am a comfy size 12/14 currently so I no longer really have to shop in horrid fat clothes departments or shops anymore. I want my clothes to be well fitted..not sloppy tents. Let's see..how has life changed? I didn't really have any major co-morbidities or take any medications that I can say I no longer take. It is just easier to move around...I always liked to hike but at close to 300lbs at my highest, it was harder to do. I think most of all, I feel more "normal" in the world. People notice me more as a person..not as a fat blob. I don't feel that I take up more space in the world than I should though I am still considered "obese"..just a much smaller obese! Because my journey has been slow, I have now gone through several seasons of clothing changes which is good and bad at the same time. This is my 3rd winter being banded..the 1st I was just down about 30 post lbs but by the 2nd, I needed a new winter wardrobe and THIS year again..all new clothes..same for summers. You learn not to get attached to clothes you won't see around the next season. No favorite sweater or favorite pants anymore! l look forward to the day I can buy clothes in my final size and keep them a few seasons! As far as the "technical" aspects of my band..I have the Inamed 9.75mm band. I currently have about a snug 2.7-2.8cc in there. I have had about 7 fills in the 2+ years. Mostly with Dr Kuri, but I recently started using Dr Helmuth Billy up in Truckee, CA for my last two fills(one of which was just last week). I am pretty new to lapbandtalk.com. I am mostly on Dr Kuri's Yahoo boards and I started my own group:NorthBayBandsters for those of us in the North Bay counties of the SF Bay Area. Ihave a bandster get together at my house this Saturday. We have small but supportive group up here. That is about it for now. I continue on this road to weight loss..at this point..once I hit the magic 200..the rest will all be a victory! Patty 8/13/02 Dr Kuri

Thanks for visiting Suzette! You were banded on my wedding anniversary! I am a turtle too..nothing wrong with turtles!! For me..this new fill has really made a difference FINALLY after 2 years of inadequate fills (and fear of being too tight). Renewed optimism now that this really can work and I know I will get the rest of the weight off eventually. Get your fill and this will work! Best of luck to you! I will see you around the boards! Patty 8/13/02 Dr Kuri

Thanks everyone for visiting my "intro" Since I joined this list in mid December..I am happily down at least another 10lbs. Dealing with quite a snug fill ove rthe holidays was a challenge..but I am sooo much closer to 200..I can taste it..just a few more lbs to go!! I now have a goal to get down to at least 175-180 before September..that would be another 25-30lbs..because we are booked for a cruise in Tahiti!! Wahooo! I would be happy to go at the weight I am now..heck..this is 30lbs lighter than when we honeymooned 5 years ago in the south pacific..so I am already ahead of my wedding weight..but having a goal to get on the other side of 200 in 8+ months is doable! Patty

I thought I would jump in here as well. There are quite a few band babies out there now..I was banded over 2 years ago and know several women who have had babies..a few got down to goal..one got part of the way there.. There really is no reason you cannot have a healthy pregnancy with the band. Since you REALLY only need an additional 300 calories per baby(in case you have multiples) that is really achievable. Some women choose to have their fills removed entirely, some partially..and some not at all. It really will depend on where you are with your restriction. One gal finally gave in about 7-8 months because the baby was pushing up her stomach and causing extra restriction..Some women have morning sickness and need the fill out so it is easier to throw up. There is a yahoo group(or at least was) called PregnantBandsters. I was on that list in 2003 when my husband and I were trying to get pregnant with IVF due to HIS infertility issue. Didn't work and we gave up on the idea of having kids..but I learned alot since I was banded in 2002.. No panic on being pregnant with the band and what you decide to do with the fill will really vary for each woman. Good luck! Patty 8/13/02 Dr Kuri

I had surgery with Dr Kuri over 2 years ago and have since been back about 6x for fills and never really had any border problems. I cannot remember the border crossing after surgery..but we always parked on US side and took the Mexicoach back and forth. We are dropped at the Mexicoach station..so the day after surgery..we must have taken a cab from the hospital to Mexicoach and then hopped on Mexicoach. We are then brought over the to bus line..you get out and go stand in line where they put your baggage through xray and you walk through the counter and show them ID (we always bring our passport because we have them) and we are usually just asked if we bought anything..Ithink once I just said I had a ceramic item I bought..and they waved us through. For surgery..dr Kuri only prescribed Dolac..comes in a box like Sudafed..I think I just had it in my bag and I believe I had the prescription form..but I was never asked about why I was there and if I had anything to declare..never searched and xrays didn't stop us.. Usually the lines are so long, they wave people through pretty quickly..I never had to worry about telling why I was there..sheesh..they barely even look at us..just wave the hand and off we go back on the bus.. I think if asked why you visited..you can just say tourist or pleasure..no need to go into any lengthy details about surgery.. Patty

Hi megan...yep have done the liquids. I always do 24 hrs of liquids right after a fill..and this fill was probably one that was easy to stick to! I got some yummy soups and stuck with those. I slowly went back to solids for a day..but was tight so I went back on liquids in case I was swollen..then back on solids. Like I said..this fill has been a roller coaster ride for sure..one reason why I have not rushed down to get an unfill. The weight loss has been great..but like I said..it has been hard fought over the last 16 days. I also was STUCK in major plateaus for months on end, so it has been nice to see the scale move down and down and down in a short time..but I don't think it is worth being this tight. It will loosen up..it has a bit already compared to last week. Another reason why so many bandsters are reluctant to get unfills..fills change from day to day and week to week.. I say a too tight fill is spitting up your own saliva..anything beyond that is up for 2nd guessing! Patty

I have to reply to this because I am this situation right now. I am a 28 month "veteran" of the band and have never been really tight until now. Dr Kuri always did my fills, but the last two(one was just 16 days ago) were with Dr Billy who does only blind fills(no flouro) I must start off by saying that I was(and still am) in the camp that I would rather be looser and just work out more than suffer with a tight fill...so here I am stuck with a tight fill. Why do I not get an unfill yet? Well..first off..besides my two doctors not being in the area (one would be a 4 hr car drive away and the other a 9 hr with border crossing), this fill has thrown me for a loop and I cannot really say if it really is too tight or if I am just fighting the restriction. This fill started out snug..it was not tight, but noticably different. I was able to drink liquids, eat liquids and small amount of solids.. After a few days I clamped tighter and could barely keep down liquids..but I did. The next day, my DH and I go to Culinary Institue for a cooking demo and fabulous 4 course meal. I was able to eat the small beef wellington from the demo, 30 minutes later..go to dinner..have a nice cocktail, a cheese course(with its own wine), some salad, two braised beef short ribs(meat MELTED in your mouth) with mashed potatoes and brussel sprouts AND some of my dessert. Whew..yeah..a band buster for sure..but I ate it all and felt fine. The alcohol usually opens me up so that may have made it easier for food to go down! Next day..my band clamps up again..back on liquids only..what the heck? I contributed that to mid cycle. I bloat during mid cycle AND PMS. It relaxed a bit after that. I am back to nibbling tiny amounts of food..just had 1/2 a chicken enchilada with a few bites of rice and Beans. But then later..I am feeling liquids back up on me! The restriction has loosened up in the morning and gotten tighter as the day progressed..wierd..usually happens the opposite for most of us! So..with all that..you struggle with the decision..do I get an unfill? Do I wait it out? Will it loosen as I lose weight? I have dropped 8-9lbs this last 16 days! Most ever! Has it been worth it? well..almost not really. I have known bandsters who have been so tight they cannot keep their own saliva down..they immediately go for an unfill. I have been on what I consider a pretty loose fill last year and from January to July..I stretched my esophagus out..so I don't think ONLY a tight fill will cause problems..I can pouch pack alot easier on a looser fill! So..since my tight fill has been so irregular..I am still not convinced of an unfill yet. As long as I am getting in solids and fluids, I will tough this one out. I do think I am just fighting it more because I like to eat alot..now I can't.. So until you are really in this situation..it is hard to see how you REALLY would react to it. Patty 8/13/02 Dr Kuri

Hi new bandster! Which Vitamin did you get? The Nature's Plus or the Utrition one? I don'tthink you should use it as an energy supplement..it is Vitamins afterall..you may not want to get too much of any of the vitamins..but that is up to you. I have only been taking the Utrition for two days..I haven't noticed much of a change in energy, but I am also catching up on a week's worth of lost sleep due to sudden reflux from a tight fill. The last two nights I am finally sleeping with no reflux. we'll see how it goes! Patty

The angora sounds yummy! I tend not to knit too much for other people if they ask to pay me even because they do not appreciate the time and expense that can go into this..I finally took a couple of close friends to a yarn shop where the balls can be about $10 each. I told them to pick out their balls and I will make them scarves..When they spent $25 for two balls of fancy yarn..they now appreciate the costs more..my time is another story. When people can go to the stores and get "hand knit" ie. machine made scarves, ponchos and hats for dirt cheap..they expect that our product should be similarly priced. We wind up working for less then minimum wage when we make the items at prices people are willing to pay..oh well.. off my soapbox! I keep my gifts limited to a few who appreciate them..mostly I knit for myself and charity! Patty

Yeah..I did knitted scarves for my sister in laws for christmas and this afghan was a last minute thought I had for a friend. I also crochet up 40 baby hats for a local hospital! I spend more time knitting these days though..I can buy the expensive yarns and they go further when knitted. Such an expensive addiction! The Debbie Bliss sweater I want to knit for myself would require about $90 of yarn that I want to use in either her cotton/angora or cotton/silk blend...yummy stuff..but pricey! Patty

Ahh...DeLarla..the one that Penni posted is different than the one I am talking about..The Utrition one I just got yesterday did not list Chromium in the ingredient list. It does, however list some ginseng. I posted the ingredient list below Penni's ingredient list..kinda looks the same. I looked at the one Penni was using..the Nature's Plus, but when I compared labels when I came across the Utrition one..I liked the ingredients and amounts better. The Utrition one is an orange/pineapple flavor..not green as been described..it is orange color..tastes a bit tart at first, then a sweet taste..nothing nasty about it! I keep it in the fridge and have in the mornng with my Breakfast. Patty

Oh gosh! Salads.....sigh...I MISS salads...big crunchy salads filled with all kinds of wonderful things! I have a really hard time with salads in general since banding. A few bites here and there for the most part on occasion..but not a whole salad! I miss that more than pizza, bread, Pasta and all the other things I have trouble eating. I get bites here and there of these things, but I would love to one day be able just to eat a whole cheeseburger..bun and all..and not just the meat picked off..or a whole lovely gourmet sandwich bread and all..or a big fat salad with all the fixings! Siggh........ Patty

Hi Marie! it is a cute hate! I saw the pattern. I am not much of a hat wearer myself. I am indoors all day(work from home) and only wear a hat if we go up to Lake Tahoe in the winter or camping. I do crochet baby hats for charity..this one may be a good cancer hat too! I love making scarves..so whoever makes the hats..I can make matching scarves and we have a business! My next projects are knitted teddy bears and toys. I just got two new books and I am anxious to try them out! So cute! Patty

Hey all! It is nice to see a thread about crocheting here! I also crochet and knit! It really does help with passing the time where you might want to be munching. I crochet/knit while I watch TV in the evening and also have a knitting group I meet up with every other week. It is definitely therapy. I am still holding off on knitting a sweater with lovely expensive yarns until I get closer to goal. I don't want to go through all the expense and time only to end up with a droopy big sweater by the time I am finished! I am furiously trying to quickly crochet a big afghan for a christmas present next week. I started it late and I try and get some done every night. I have been extremely tight the past few nights after a new fill last week and it has helped me keep my mind off wanting food while I stitch! Anyway...just wanted to jump in here! Patty 8/13/02 Dr Kuri

Hi DeLarla...so wierd about chromium making you crazy. Where did you see Chromium on the list of the Utrition liquid? I do see Ginseng in it..but not chromium. Some chromium is good for your diet...but I know alot of the supermarket Vitamins have very little of anything. If we were able to get more nutrition from eating alot of good quality food..we wouldn't need a Vitamin or the supermarket basic MV's would be fine..but being I can eat so little, I am looking for the best quality MV that has the most of all the vitamins and minerals I can get. I always noticed a difference when I am taking a vitamin that is higher in all the B's and has additional stuff in it to help with nails, hair and skin. My hair gets curlier and thicker is one thing I notice. I don't really say I have MORE energy, but I just notice an overall better condition of my external self. Anyway..I hope you find a vitamin that works for you! These liquids seem like a great alternative to the chewables that are out there for those that want more! Patty 8/13/02 Dr Kuri

I Took medical expense tax deductions 2 years in a row...2002 for my surgery bills in Mexico and 2003 was for infertility treatments. The way it works is you can deduct anything that is above 7.5% of your Adjust Gross Income..so if your AGI is $100K(just to keep this simple rounding)..if your total medical bills are $10K for that year..you can deduct anything above the 7,500(which would be the 7.5% of your AGI)so you could deduct in this instance $2500 out of the total $10K. So everyone's will be different based on what you make. Make sure you have receipts for everything and include everything. For those having surgery overseas, you can deduct: airfare or other transport costs hotel food taxis cost of surgery fills and expenses related to fills(transportation) for your every day medical expenses, we included medical co payments monthly premiums prescription costs We had receipts for everything and we just supplied our CPA with an excel sheet of each individual expense broken down and just kept the receipts bundled together in case we ever got audited. Anyway..definitely work with a CPA when you have years you have deductions to make sure you get it right! Patty 8/13/02 Dr Kuri

I have been banded 2+ years and every month around my period, I typically bloat up 5lbs and do experience tighter restriction. It used to just be for a day before and a day after.My periods are incredible short..always 2 maybe 3 days. Now it seems that I don't get the restricting and bloating until after I start and the restriction can last for a few days after I stop! I also notice that I do seem to have some restriction change mid cycle around ovulation..not as much as PMS time..but it is noticable. I do try and avoid fills during these two times. I am fairly predictable so I can plan ahead. Now..having said that..I just started using Dr Billy up in Truckee for my fills..and he changed his schedule on me and bumped me a month..and the ONE weekend he was to be up there was the weekend I started my period. ALSO, being higher in elevation up in Truckee also effects the restriction..so you have to be sensitive to that as well. Anyway..it MAY effect your fill in only that if you do bloat and it effects your restriction, you may be more restricted than you really are and not get as good a fill. I also started eating ground flax seed every morning to get my Omega fatty acids in(I don't eat fish at all to get these in)..these help alleviate PMS symptoms and I noticed last month that I did not have my usual 5lb Water gain/loss as I usually do. I will see next month if that was just an anomoly or if the flax seed is helping Hope that helps! Patty

I will add that my experience with Dr Kuri is equally as impressive and I would highly recommend him to anyone considering surgery and cannot afford it locally. I do, however, recommend surgery there with the strict recommendation that the patient have a plan for post op care and band maintenance lined up if they are unable to return to Mexico. With 2+ years banded, I have yet to have a band emergency of any kind where I felt I really needed my doctor in town or close enough by.I know a gal who was banded after I was who was willing to pay $30K out of pocket to go to a surgeon nearby just for the security of knowing he was close..I thought that was a waste of an additional $20K given the cost of going to Mexico, but that is what made her feel safe. I am also in Northern california so though it is still a hassle from here..at least I am not back east and needing to quickly get to the border. A 10 hr car ride or cheap, fast flight down to SD is doable if I need to do it. This is the main reason that I did not go with my first choice, Dr Rumbaut was because he is just too far and too costly to return to if needed. I have seen many bandsters just consider the cost of the surgery and think they are done, but you really have to consider the cost of aftercare in the equation: money loss from unpaid leave from work, airfare, car, gas, hotel, radiology, etc. I have gone back to TJ for fills with Kuri for 6 fills in 2 years and I have probably spent about $1,000 total in costs for those fills..probably less since we always drove and had a free place to stay en route in Los Angeles..but it is all part of the cost. My backup fill doctor I just started to use, charges $300 for a non-flouro fill and allows a 2nd "free" tweak if needed. It is more than what I would pay for one trip to Mexico..either driving or flying..but the time and hassle factor is worth paying more. And who wouldn't love a weekend in Tahoe once ina while. Another free place to stay there as well so it makes the trip less costly if we decide to stay in the area. So..if you are researching Mexico..I only advise is to consider aftercare cost and hassle as part of the equation when choosing a doctor and location. Patty 8/13/02 Dr Kuri Dr Helmuth Billy-back up fill doctor

Delarla! I wouldn't say no to fudge either! Yumm!! Glad I am not over there now! My husband's grandmother makes homemade fudge at christmas, but we won't be spending t with his family this year so I will miss it..oh well.. I am just so happy to not worry so much about gaining weight and backsliding as usual..I know I COULD still gain weight with the band..but so far..no matter what I eat..that hasn't happened. Has it slowed my weight loss? Sure! But I am happier not to go up rather than stay the same! Enjoy the fudge, lucky girl! Patty

Thanks everyone for stopping by and welcoming me in! Looking at all your stats..you are all doing amazing! The band definitely has its pros and cons, but as we approach the holidays, I appreciate it even more knowing that I can have some indulgences but I will not be able to go overboard and do the standard holiday gain of weight most people have! I don't believe in deprivation and will enjoy what holiday goodies I am able to, but I have found that you tend to be pickier with what you indulge in..If I put a cookie in my mouth and I don't like it..the other part goes in the trash..I don't even think about eating something I don't like just because it's there..it is quality..not quantity. Patty