the best me

Yes, but don't wait. You two kiss and make up!!! You know you love each other

YES! You are simply not allowed to go to Mx for your surgery unless you have confirmed the availability local doc who will see you in a pinch, whether for fills, or any concern or complication that needs local care. Most (if not all) of the Mx docs are great about being available by phone at any time after your surgery, so don't feel like you'll be alone out there with nothing. BUT you need to know that a US band doc is willing to see you if needed. Even if you plan to return to MX for fills. Very important.

Yes, Dragonwilo confirmed this today. She is being referred to Bauman. Does anyone know about this Dr Timothy Kuwada that Karen referred to? Hey Karen, where is Kuwada's office? Also, does this mean that Presby is no longer doing Lap Bands at all? Was Dr. V the only doc doing them? Geez, well, someone will pop up and get into the Lap Band game. Charlotte is an open market and it looks like Bauman has it cornered for now. Where is Dr V going?

I wish I could be there, too!!! Believe you me, I'll be checking in on the 'puter for insta-pics from DeLarla's Fun House on Saturday. I'll be thinking about all you crazy people having a ball together...I want a margarita!!!! Have fun everyone. Give each other a ((((((hug)))))) from me. It's so special to be able to get together. I'm so happy for you!! and JEALOUS!!!!

Perfect timing. Do it. And go on your cruise. You are fortunate to have it work out so perfectly!! You will be far enough along that you won't be miserable from exhaustion post-surgery and not so far enough along that you won't need and enjoy the relaxation. You won't, however, get your money's worth on the food but you will do fine. Cruise ships are very accomodating. I would, for convenience sakes, pack a small blender, just in case. You got a date!!!!!!! Hey, what's the scoop on Dr. V?????

Oooo...he's a cutie!!!! Wowza. If I were his age, I'd certainly be interested!!! Well done, Kare! He's mighty good-lookin' with a winner smile and beautiful curls. I know you are so proud!

hehe, no breakfast yet! I dunno. I know there is one fella herer who managed to get his nipple nicked by the shaving razor the nurse used...OUCH! But it apparently healed up fine. And I think they shaved because of the sticky EKG or whtever thingy's they use...so, I guess I'm not much help. I'm assuming you have some type of scars underneath the rug? Thanks for the smile this morning!!

I'm a happy Dr Kuri patient. It was $8950 at the time, plus airfare and traveling expenses. www.Beliteweight.com He's very experienced and does a great job. His associates are wonderful. I wish I could afford to go back for fills but I'm clear across the country from TJ. I hear great things about Drs Ortiz/Martinez. I'm sure someone will post their web addy. Good luck!! Let me know if you want to hear more!

Good one! I'll be hanging on to my dear old trusties for a long time. They stay up! I know they are too big...theyr'e just so comfy!!! I've got 'em in black and silky, black and stretchy thin cotton, black and a cotton knit. Love 'em. But hate 'em, too. Just can't seem to give them up. Good for you!!!

So happy for your good news...now you can rest your mind and move on!!! That's interesting about your fill. When I went for my unfill, 5 days after my first fill of 2cc, the doc got the needle into the port and drew out some, but not much, saline. Here's the odd part, he then had me do a crunch on the table. You know, like a small sit-up where you tighten your stomach muscles. Nothing, then I sat up and as he drew on the needle, I crunched, and the saline started flowing into the needle. I suppose it makes sense that you could contract your stomach muscles and force saline out of the band and into the tubing...but only because he was drawing out the syringe at the same time. Did you "crunch" at your unfill? Hmmm. I hadn't read anything about that technique on LBT, but it sure worked. Anyhow, so glad your band is happy in there and your symptoms are better. Take good care of that little friend of yours!!!

Huge sigh of relief and a bit miffed for putting you on the RNYer diet!!! AARRGGHH! Oh you are going to feel SOOO much better over these next days. If you can have deli thin slices, you might be able to add those noodles to the Egg Drop Soup-just let them soak for a good little bit and get very soggy- and you will feel so full!!! Relief! So glad for you

Alatina, you are making 4 trips? What's the cut off for mailing something to you to take? So if I miss it, you will be going back? I would love to send some things to you to take...my budget is tight but I can swing it over the next week or two...a gift card for you to purchase what they need is right up my alley. Would that help? That way if they have enough toothbrushes for now, they can get other items. I totally trust that you will get my donation to the right people, etc...I'm not worried about that, nor do I want a copy of a receipt, I just want what is hard for me to give to actually be needed and used. With you, it will be. So, what are the deadlines and PM me your address.

I seriously think this might very well be the issue. Get it straightend out, girl. You know that no one here will encourage you to go against your doc's post-op diet. I'm suspicious enough about what you have been told that I'd come this close () to saying "screw it" and have some cream soup, blended, and watered down with milk. You shouldn't feel this bad!! You need calories! You don't "dump" like some RNYers, and your digestive tract is entirely intact. You just have to eat liquids right now. Please let us know what happens. ((((((((HUGS))))))) Editing: OH! Check out this thread, it might be helpful if you print it out and take it with you. http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=3995

First of all, are you nursing? That's a big factor in making a decision about where to go from here... Also, what size is your band? How is your restriction now? I'm assuming it's next to nothing, but do you have ANY restriction? Sometimes just changing the foods you eat can help you feel and stay full. Try this link... http://lapbandtransformation.com/Adjustments.htm and see if that helps. Good luck. Congrats on your little bundle!!

Oh, that's very helpful. There's a good sized California group here so sit tight...I'm in North Carolina so, well, ya know. I have no clue. I did, however, do a Search here on LBT for "Posselt" and nothing came up. So his name has not been mentioned on this site. Is he new to banding? You are very smart to research your doc well. I hope something comes up.

Wow, girl! Happy Happy Birthday to you!!!! Wahooo! btw, you really should sign on a bit more often and check in, ya know? I miss you!!!

I have complete respect for Delarla's new business. I don't think it's inappropriate. I don't think Kare's first post was inappropriate...not in how she said it, not in the fact that she pointed to DeLarla for others interested in what she has to offer. I cracked up laughing when I read her first post. I don't have a problem with anyone letting other LBT members know where they can purchase intimate merchandise, or any merchandise! For me, personally, it's getting close to the proverbial line when comments are posted about HOW VERY wonderful...well, you get the idea, and on and on. In addition to that, the nature and details, however masked with innuendo, of adult sexual relationships is wrong for this particular Forum (LBT). Not wrong to discuss, just not appropriate here where the younger bandsters are exposed to topics that are decidedly adult. I have no doubt that DeLarla's business is legitimate, tasteful, well-managed, and empowering. Looks who is running it. But Sandie's son shouldn't have to run across this type of adult discussion. Nor should any of our teen bandsters. I'm all in suport of the topic being discussed if there is a way to do it discreetly, as with a password protected forum or something of the like. Okay, that's my opinion again.

I backed out of this one but have occasionally followed along. I'm a grown up and I know what this thread is about and I can choose not to participate and I can choose not to read. However...I don't like the thought of offending, or offering out adult conversation to teens, no matter how parents "should" be monitoring. If I had a teen I knew was logged on to LBT, you can bet I wouldn't be worrying about whether or not she was reading this type of adult conversation. I would assume she wasn't, right? And I can guarantee you I would NOT be wanting my teen to read these things. I don't care at what age kids start exploring. Plus, it's posted in General Discussion (ie: regarding Lap Band) and really should be in the Lounge. We are all banded and all areas of life, especially our sexuality, are affected by our banded states, BUT, it's a Lounge topic, nonetheless. Even there, though, any teen could read it. Perhaps Kare could Edit her first post to add "Warning: adult topics discussed on this thread. If you don't approve, please move on and do not read further". Or something to that effect. That way adults who are not comfortable have been warned. That doesn't stop the teens issue. What to do? This issue is now being discussed at length. Where do these folks go? It's a great topic...just adult in nature and not appropriate now that it's being discussed "at length". My opinion. And don't you know I have one

Aw Dee Dee. Time to change things around. Definately wait and discuss this with your nutritionist, or call even! but you have got to add more than 8 ounces of Protien drink. Double or triple it!!! Drop back on the apple juice, not the water. And for goodness sakes, ask about Egg Drop Soup! Man, that stuff saved my life. It really really made a difference in how I feel. I was drinking it slowly at about a week post-op. (Wait, take that back, it was during week 2 but I had a slow start with lots of swelling...you should be able to handle it) You need a more varied diet, that's for sure. No wonder you feel like crud!! Hey, what about chicken or beef broth? Have you eaten any of that? Chicken broth is a clear liquid. Another staple of post-op. You won't hurt your band eating ANY of the things I mentioned. Just don't put the noddles in the Egg Drop Soup until you are on to mushies. Call today! Ask about those things. Feel better! There is no reason why you should be going into Ketosis and feeling this rotten. And if you put the cucumber meat (cut out the seeds) into the blender and add some carrot juice? Why not? If you can eat tuna, you should be able to eat these other foods. Time to start experimenting, in my book.

Amen and Praise the Lord!!! So happy to hear the good news!!!!

Heh, yep!!! You learn to get a little less panic-stricken when it comes to food, but that tnedency will most likely follow you for a good bit. I STILL do it sometimes. Eating is a stress-reliever, ya know. But it's OH so much easier to deal with when that little band that you love so much and want to take care of is in there slowing you WAYYYY down. it's great. A whole new world. Please come to Fridays, at least! It will do you good to see "bandsters in action" at each step of the game. You will learn lots and we are nice, aren't we girls? hehe

Yay Melissa!! Here ya go, now! You got the little piece of paper that's like gold to so many...an approval letter!!! Well done! Can't wait to find out your date!!

Uh, I eat less? Let's see...I have to chew better and eat more slowly, that really is kind of a pain and "restrictive" but I get over it. Hmmm, I am motivated to take care of my band by slowing down, paying attention to my foods, which ones, how much, so many "it depends" situations, which is kind of restricting but again, I get over it. I eat pretty much what I want (okay, so I can't eat asparagus-too stringy- or pineapple unless I spit out the wad of Fiber left over after chewing out all the sweet parts-or large hunks of steak-but I can eat it cut small and well-chewed) Nope, life after banding is different, but most definately livable. Best thing though, I'm losing weight. It's work. Ain't easy. But I can do it. And not just for a week or two. I can do it day after day after week after month. Yep. I'm restricted. But only from eating my way to my grave.

Hi and welcome to LBT! I don't know your doc...where is UCSF??? Geez, I don't even know which state you are in! Otherwise I could direct you. More info please! Oh, and welcome again to LBT. Keep pressing on, you'll get your info!

YES!!!! I agree with everything you just said!!! I went to www.Room42.com and did my calculations there. It said that at my current weight, I need to eat 1600 calories a day to maintain my weight, 1400 to lose, but no less than 1200 to have safe and healthy weight loss. It even told me how much I can expect to lose over how many days (I forgot to write it down) AND I did the calculation for my calorie intake at my goal weight. To maintain my goal weight I need 1400 calories a day, 1200 to lose but no less than 1000 (I think it said). So the 1400 clories a day I'm eating now will make me lose weight, but if I don't decrease it down the road, I'll simply maintain it. So, anyhow, I will slowly be eating less and less in order to lose weight. The more I lose, the less I need to eat in order to lose more (like that's a surprise). Anyhow, I thought that was interesting. Last time I checked my body fat (about a year ago at around 235 pounds) it was 43%. Uggg!! I wonder wonder wonder what it is now? Ya'll make me want to know!!