the best me

My first fill will be non-flouro. Assuming the doc can find the port,etc. And I can feel it, round and hard and smooth under my skin, so I don't anticipate problems. I have heard others here recommend a flouro fill at least once a year, just to get a look at the band and all associated parts. I'm self-pay, too. I budgeted enough to cover flouro filsl if needed, but will wait a year if possible, just to stretch the funds.

I just don't even know what to say. I'm so sorry and will be praying. I'm gonna go hug my kids. And I'm gonna EAT something! With sugar and Fat and thank Almighty God for my Band and my healthy body. My God, I wouldn't lose another pound if it meant living like that. I am blown away and so sorry. Thanks for the link, Mary.

Okay Persimmon, now I know where you came from! Me: "Who's this girl with great replies all over the board, out of nowhere, where'd she come from and how did she get here? I'm gonna check her out!" Which led me to here. How 'bout an introduction? I'd love to know all the scoop about when you were banded, your doc, your weight loss so far and your goals. It appears you only have 12 posts (all great, btw) but no introduction! Maybe you are familiar to the other folks who know you from OH, but you are like a ghost from nowhere to me! It's nice to have your experience here. Thanks for your replies!

Good luck tracy! Don't forget to post and let us know how it all went. Congrats!!

It's time for a fill. I scheduled one today, but it's not until July 6th. wowza! I have the 9.75/4cc band...wow, they put 2.5 in a 4cc band? Wonder what I'll end up with? Our stats are so similar, check 'em out! Except I was banded, what, 19? days before you? So, how is ONEderland? I can't wait to get below 200. That will be a milestone for me! Keep us posted on how your fill is working for ya. I'm interested in knowing what the differences are in your eating abilities after your fill. Thanks! OH Yeah! Fill costs for Kuri are NOT free!!! Okay, so he charges no fee, but airfare, transportation (I heard $50 one way to and from the airport through Kuri's office if you want that scheduled) or you can pay your own taxi, whatever. They suggested getting together with someone to share the $50 fees. Plus hotel if you have to stay overnight due to flight schedules, and food/spending. Then the $70 lab fee for the flouro. Adds up! I love Kuri, and would gladly go there for fills but just can't afford it, not when the guy up the road is $200 (non-flouro).

alatina, you are in TX, right? Did you go to TJ for a fill? Who filled you? Do you have the 9.75/4cc band? Sorry for the ??'s, just trying to compare me to you! Glad it went well. I scheduled my first fill today with a NC doc. No problems, except that I have to wait until July 6th! Hello!!! Anyhow, glad it went well. Kuri seems to do consistently good work on banding. I love it.

The jury is still out for me, but so far, so good! You will find lots of info here so kick off your shoes and stay a while. Okay, your screen name is 7kids. Should I assume that you are either the mom or dad of 7, lets spell it...seven children? Ranging in what ages? Wow. Time for some scoop from you. I assume you are from Utah, how much weight do you want to lose? Do you have a doc in mind? Spill the Beans, please! And Welcome!

I am paste-y white. My legs are Neon. It's pitiful but I really don't care for the sun-damaged look on me. I'm already fighting the small wrinkles. My sister has always said that tan fat looks better, and I agree, but I can't seem to do the sun-worshipping rituals required, not do I care to pay for the tanning beds, and lie in there all fat and naked an sweaty. Yuk. Last summer I bought banana Boat sunless tanner at the grocery store and it was fine. This year I got the Coppertone for light/med skin tones. It's fine. I suppose it's a little orange-y but not bad. All I'm interested in is reducing the glare. I don't intend to looked tanned. So I apply it each time I shave my legs, and spend plenty of time carefully rubbing it in evenly. It really is a hit or miss thing. Watch out for the ankles, you can get dark spots easily there. Lower your expectaions and use just a tad less lotion, that might help it be less uneven. I heard that Clinique makes a great sunless tanner, but 6.99 at Wal-Mart compared to at least 38 buckaroos at the department store counter made my decision

Change doctors. Any doc who has you leaving his office in tears is thinking about his business and not you, the patient. He should be fair-minded and give you the facts on both sides, then support your decision either way. So you are a chicken because you don't want your insides re-routed, re-plumbed, cut apart and rearranged? Waaaaaaaa!!! Just about every person on this board who has chosen lap band must be chicken, too. Like I said, waaaaaaaaa! I'm not ashamed of that one bit. Sounds like you aren't either. And the Band does, indeed, require self-control. The RNY doesn't? What's up with that? And tell your doc there are thousands of bandsters our there that get very physical consequences for eating inappropriately. PB's, stuck, heartburn. Sure makes a good case for having a little self-control in my book. Sounds like your doc is grossly misinformed about the Band. Do some reading here, it'll sink in. Chin up, Chris. You aren't crazy. And we are here for you. Don't sweat it, you just need a little time and a place to ask your questions. Glad you showed up!

Good for you! Good decision.

Yep. Liquid Tylenol may help, and/or a heating pad. I know it's aggravating but it's a good sign!! As long as it's an itching/prickly feeling and not pain. It shouldn't hurt.

chocolate or vanilla, didn't try the strawberry. Boost makes a High Protien version. It still doesn't have as much protien as some of the powders or more expensive drinks, but it's what I used because it was easy and yummy. I would mix a vanilla Boost with a few cubes of ice and frozen blueberries in the Magic Bullet, yummy! I still drink it when I'm on the run. Thumbs up on Boost!!

Margo, have you kept copies of all of these documents you have been forwarding to your file? Wouldn't it be grand to make them do all this work and switch docs? AND tell them why? It may not be a possibility for you, but the thought!!! There is just no reason for tht kind of rudeness, really. I'd be mad too!

Oh yes, good gross yukky pics of ports are the BEST! Please post pics! Jack, of course, is right about how it should look a little lighter every day. You will be able to tell if your bruise is dispersing. Did the doc give you any antibiotics? Take care, don't wander too far now that your mom is gone. Don't make us worry!!

Karri, I found water to be harder to drink than other liquids. Even Gatorade somehow went down better than water. Go figure. But water was certainly drinkable, and you should try to get it in. I'd personally be more concerned with the water than the protien. You could drop up to 10 protiens from your menu and still be fine, and substitute with good ole clear clean healthy healing water. At least for a few days until swelling goes down and you are able to get it ALL in.

I agree! I hear complaints about support groups and information sessions with "mixed" crowds. The majority of the crowd is always gastric bypass. It happens. What I can say is there is NO WAY I could have gone through getting banded if not for the support I get on this site. I spent months reading, learning, laughing and becoming involved with all these nice folks here. It's all the support I need. What I had to do "back when" was to decide on banding and move forward as if it were true. I had to own my decision, knowing that I could and would change my mind at any moment. By the time I scheduled the surgery and paid the deposit, I was ready and I knew it. Sorry you felt left out. You came to the right place when you got home though!

Great Birthday celebration. Happy Birthday!!! Don't you love the band...only 2 slices of pizza? Used to, I could eat 5-6! So you can only go off the deep end but so far. Ice Cream, well, nothing but willpower stops it! Good job recovering from your wild weekend. Sounds like it was lots of fun and now you are back on track!

Great reply Jayme, I needed to re-read this...thinking about a fill, thinking it's time? Good luck johnny, how's your wife?

The biggest craving I had after surgery was calories. I felt like I was swooning, not dizzy or about to fall over, just muddled, not clear-headed. I knew I needed calories. I think Isopure is a clear protien powder you can mix with Gatorade to get some protien in. That would be very helpful. Water, water, water, too, for lactating. You might need to put the boppy on top of a pillow across your lap for support, and to keep her high, off your belly. Then you might need another pillow under your arm supporting her head, whichever side she's on. You will work it out and it will be fine. Nursing is best, that's for sure so if you can suffer through and not lose your milk supply you will be able to nurse her through for months and months. If Kelly can relactate at 6 months (well done, BTW!) you can do this. Do you have a good breast pump? Look into spending $50-75 for a month's rental if not. Electric. Double. Even if she doesn't drink the milk you pump, you will be keeping your supply up. It was 2 weeks before I quit being REALLY sore in the port area. That's me, though. After that it was tender but got better every day. I think the med kelly is talking about is an herbal supplement. I took something that started with an "F", I'll have to think...got it at GNC. It helps boost your milk supply. It's in a capsule, so I'd worry about being able to take it newly banded...hmmm. That's where your lactation consultant will come in really handy. You can do this! I have great confidence you will do well!!!

(quick hijack) Hey Sharon! Glad your plans are coming along and you will be switched on July 11th. Please let us know how it goes. We are all so Band happy here it will be nice to hear a bypass procedure report that goes well. I'm sure you will do great! Congrats!

Smart move to talk to the lactation consultant. Does Catalyna take a bottle at all? I'd imagine you may need to do some pumping and supplementing her for the fisrt few days after surgery, just to make sure you don't lose your milk supply and she stays nourished. The biggest problmes I see ahead of you are surgery day and the first night. If she can be bottle fed and you pump during that time, I'm sure you can work in regular feedings after that without too much problem. Get the pillows ready for shielding your belly. Nursing while laying down is perfect but there was no way I could have laid on my port side and nursed. The other side, yes, but not the port side. Kudos for moving forward. You will work to get through and you will both be fine. Let us know how it goes, all the gory details and all!

Great Job Mary!!! That's a great accomplishment for a great cause! I had my 40yo mammogram last Friday. (((((((((SQUISHHHHHHH)))))))))) owie! but worth it.

Tough day Esmerelda, I'm really sorry. The boyfriend break-up is always hard, especailly when the kids are involved. They will be better having you away from a bad relationship, which it sounds as if it was. Don't look back, girl. When people show you who they are (possessive, insecure, causing scenes, accusatory) believe them!!! This is not good for you or for your children. I always wonder if the guy who accuses you of, whatever, is really just doing it himself, you know? Anyway, I'm really sorry. Keep thinking about a year from now when this is all behind you and life really has moved on and changed for the better in so many ways. Chin up.

Hey Sheri, I have noticed that leftover cold chicken or pork roast always gives me a harder time than fresh from the oven or grill hot meats. Cold is harder, I guess, so i am careful to "lube" it with some BBQ or some other dipping sauce when I eat it cold. No matter how much I chew it, the cold meats have a harder time. Don't forget to lube it!!

I have to laugh, you thought we were exaggerating! It is very scary and overwhelming the first time. I had read enough that I knew what was happening the first time I PB'd, but it's still very dramatic! What I wasn't expecting were the small waves of nausea that overcame me before I threw it up. Augh! Yep, welcome to bandland! In a new way, that is!