the best me

Wow Megan, you look GREAT! Well done!

Congratulations Joan!! What a sweet guy, way to remember! I hope your travel, surgery and reocery go smoothly. Post when you return and let us know how it went! Happy Banding!!!

Hey Eliza! Apparently the doc doesn't decide the band size until he/she gets inside and sees your innerds...I suspect that they know pretty well ahead of time how big/little your band needs to be. It depends on your anatomy and I think the amount of weight you need to lose. Also, fills are different for each person. One person's 2.2cc in a 4cc band is anothers' 1.6cc in a 4cc band. Just depends. It's true though, from what others have posted, that those with the larger bands need more fill to get good restriction. Let us know what size your band is when you find out. Glad to see you here!!!

ooooo, ooooo, good question. My dad is on Medicare, I am fairly certain it pays for banding, but how much does it end up being out-of-pocket? That was his question. If Medicare pays for ALL of it, he might consider it. He's around 275, age 66 and REALLY needs to take off the weight. I'm anxoius for replies, too!

But he fits Aquarius so well! Hmmm. I don't know anything about this stuff, really. Hey Dallasdoll, I'm Taurus, too. Chubby, huh? great. My hubby is June 5 (yep, today, wahoo, happy birthday hubby!) and I think he's the twins with the split personalities.

flower, I just put anti-biotic ointment on them, still do at 8 weeks. They are starting to raise up, so I'm thinking it's time for some Mederma to help them flatten out. Next time I'm at Wal-Mart, I plan to look for the Mederma bandaids. I can feel my port if I press on it. It doesn't poke out visibly. Some poeple do have pokey ports when they lose weight, but I don't think it's abnormal looking, really. Maybe those folks will post. Here are a few threads that might interest you... http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=6117 Scar Stages http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=6938&highlight=poke who can feel their port? http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=4268&highlight=poking wierd looking port Just a little research for ya, hope it helps.

You can get your calories in liquid form and drink them. Sure, "real" food is better but I see no reason why you couldn't nurse a baby. You can grow one banded, why couldn't you nurse one? If I'm not mistaken, all fill comes out of your band when you get pregnant, right? Just don't get filled again until you and the baby are done nursing. I think the nutritionist who thinks it's a bad idea is wrong. Does she realize how easy it is to eat an extra 400 calories? Hello!!!!!!!!!

Gorgeous, dahlingk! You look fabulous!!!

Feeling like you can feel your band, tugging, stiches, palpitations, spasms, discomfort, etc after 5 weeks is NOT normal. Getting food stuck IS normal. Just do what Jamie said... this is the problem with a Cousin Band. Just how is that different from the Inamed the vast majority of us have? How differently is the surgery performed where you are and could this be causing your problems? Do you think you should get a complete unfill and see what being virtually bandless is like? I don't know if doing this would help anything, but it really doesn't sound Normal at all.

Hey Cammie, I'm in the Charlotte area, too! We should plan a little get-together as soon as we see who else shows up. It's really hard for me to drive to Durham in the evenings with 2 youngsters, or I'd join in the Greensboro IHOP gatherings. I'd love to meet everybody! Hey Cammie, I just realized that I PM'd you about you needing help with LBT, you keep getting lost! I'm glad you found your way back. Don't go far! I can't believe you are in Charlotte! Angie, our numbers are growing! Guess what, I had an Eliza sighting...she came off the Summerville thread, can you believe it? yep, she actually posted somewhere else, I was very proud! hehe

No kidding, really?! Ooops, sorry! Funny how I assumed you were female. I just went and read your intro and a few other posts I had seen but didn't put two and two together. You can bet I won't do it again, now! Hey, you should go to your User CP and change your "Registered User" to Brian, so other poor folks like me won't feel like an idiot. They'll thank you. And if they don't I will. Thanks! Again, sorry 'bout that!

Thanks Josy, you have done a great job of getting across to deal with the issue before getting banded. Bschucher made a wise choice to bring it up in her psych eval. I wish the best for you, and I'm glad you will continue participating on LBT, and I didn't run you off being too pushy. I admire your strength! Keep us posted on how things go for you!

I got the biggest smile when I first read the title to your thread! Welcome Home, Banded-girl! You did it! I'm so happy for you. Rest, sip and walk. Great post...thanks for the cool details. Good job taking care of the lady beside you! That was a good distraction! Well done.

Yippee! So glad it is working out and you don't need an unfill. Weight loss here you come!! Watch out!

Anyone find out for sure if my dad is Aquarious or Capricorn? Jan 14. He said something last night about thinking he was Capricorn, and I said, "but your house might be in a different moon" and he said, "yeah, that's it" (roll eyes) so while it's all amusing and fun, we have a houseful of skeptics here...hehe.

Hello Barbara! I saw your intro and thought, "she's not new!!" but it's nice to have an intro post! You will do fine going alone. From what I hear, Dr ortiz will take good care of you, no worries!

Great post 2B! Thanks! You have a great attitude. That is so sweet about the way those kids care about you. It speaks volumes for your character. Well done.

It's normal!! You just had 5 or so holes poked in you, and not just cuts, ALL the way through every layer into your body cavity. The port side will definately hurt for longer...for me is was very tender for at least 2 weeks, then slowly got better. The rest of the area takes a few day. By mid-next week, you will feel great. Get a flat pillow, or a folded flat sheet and keep it pressed across your belly when you stand and walk. It keeps everything from jiggling so much, which helps. Hey, how 'bout taking your pain medication and sleeping? What's wrong with that? What else do you need to be doing except recovering? Huh? Okay, it's important to sip and walk in between knock-outs. And I know you don't want to take more pain meds that you need. But this is what, day 2? Didn't you come home yesterday? Give it a minute. No prancing around just yet!

The NSV's are already rolling in! Well done, doesn't it make you feel good? I'm so excited for you!

Warning: Tough Love ahead... I have so many things I want to say...let me just list them because I have attempted to post a reply 4 times now and each time I end up re-thinking... First, thanks so much for posting because Bschucher, and no doubt others, are learning alot about how important it is to deal with this issue before getting banded. It is a habit/tendency/addiction/whatever that haunts relentlessly. Banding does NOT cure bulemia. Now, I hope that you will do what Bschucher has done and research bulemia well, for your own information. You need to gain some understanding about what this is about. Being frightened about losing your band is obviously not enough to stop you, would you agree? Okay, shrinks are people, and some people need to be spoken to plainly. It is up to you to be more assertive with your shrink about the bulemia. Say it out loud, say it plainly and clearly. You will not be able to get help from her if you don't SAY IT. Don't infer it, attempt it, dance around it, or say "i think, maybe, I might be, at risk..." That is being dishonest with yourself and with her. There is no "I think" here. No "at risk" or "maybe" here. You have bulemia and are binging and purging and you need help. This is an Eating Disorder that will destroy your health. Banded or NOT! You cannot live this way. Get Help. If you don't think your shrink can or will or is able to handle this issue with you, ask her for a recommendation for someone who can. AND just because you don't purge with every meal and don't get thin from purging, does not mean you are not bulemic, in need of help, have a problem, nor does it mean you have a small self-control issue that might, could, put you at risk for losing your band. I hope that you get a feel for how shocked and concerned I am. This is tough LOVE. I know that I don't know you, only what you have posted on this board, and that does not fully represent the whole of who you are. I know that there is so much more to you than this issue. I hope that you will continue to come here for support. I admit that you may read this and not hear what you want to hear and never come back, and when would I have had the opportunity to urge you to help yourself? So I am saying it and I hope that you are not upset, turned away, whatever. Be Strong. Be strong for yourself and for others who will come here and read what you say and who will be encouraged, Enlightened, perhaps frightened into seeing the truth about themselves. Your words CAN help others. I hope mine have helped you. I hope others here on LBT will have a message for you, too. Wow, please know that I will be praying for you. I hope that you will stay in touch! Let us know how it goes, okay?

Wow Josy, brave post. Thanks for your honesty. I hope you are prepared for advice to seek the help of a professional on this one! I'm sure I won't be the only one to suggest it. So, what did you tell your doc when you got unfilled? Just that you were too tight? That's what I see as the biggest problem with the purging is when getting the food up after a binge is so automatic and way too easy. This is not good! Your best bet, it seems, would be to learn not to binge in the fisrt place. I dunno, but your perspective is valuable on this site and I'm so glad you spoke up.

Oh my gosh, girl! I went to an aerobics class yesterday and my legs and butt are so sore! I hadn't been in 2 months due to surgery so it's like starting over...ouch!!! So I may wait a bit on Billy Banks, at least until my calves recover!

Way to go, girl! Well done! You have a great attitude that will get you through just fine. Rest up, we'll be here for ya!

I'm so smilin' for you

Awesome job everyone!! Is that Jammin Jamie at the top? Wahooo!! Okay, I can't wait for the next one. I've got Princess in the crosshairs. 217 to 191. And she was banded a few weeks before me, I think. I want SO bad! to be under 200. Let's go ya'll!