the best me

Okay folks, Lynn is going through the mechanics of scheduling her Lap Band surgery sometime in July (waiting on Insurance approval) so this is her support thread for stupid questions and feedback and venting and cheerleading, and all the other stuff you get and give on LBT. I have committed to following her through her journey and here is where we will post our stuff. We are hoping that other newbies can peek in and get encouragement, ideas, and a picture of the process, while others of you can just follow along and chime in at any time with pertinent advice/opinions/feedback, whatever. Or you can just ignore us and we'll happily post along through Lynn's band journey! So here we are Lynn! Next post is yours so I'll leave it to you to bring it up to speed on what has happened so far. Give us the scoop on your doc, hospital, weight loss goals, etc. and stupid questions, if you have any yet. Welcome to the best Lap Band Support site available! Welcome to YOUR thread!

Prayers for a peacful spirit and a sense of calm about you as you prepare. Go get that ole nasty messed up gall baldder taken out of you so you can be whole and healthy again! You will feel SOOO much better. God Bless you!

Okay, I panicked when I saw "Rabbits" under the food Forum. Surely this is a mistake, right? Ha on me! While I have no personal qualms about eating meat, or butchering rabbits for food, something about them moving from a hutch in my backyard to my dinner table...Maybe a bit too much of the country has been bred out of me! You go, Teresa!

Thanks for the reminder girls! My kids are 2 and 5 so I'm thinking it's inevitable...I'll be putting away the razors! That is TOO funny, Mary! Yes, we'd LOVE so see a pic of that one!

Exactly what desertmom said!!! Don't be discouraged Hamu, you can do this and keep it off! I am learning alot about the badn and myself and my eating habits; things I never would have learned without this restrictive band. It's the same, yes, but OH! so different. I guess what's hard for me is following the band rules and listening to my newly banded body...desertmom is right on about high calorie foods, even eating less foods than before. If you don't follow the banded rules you are in for a stall in loss for sure. What you would have a really hard time doing is losing 50 and gaining 70 in the same year. Easy with dieting, much harder with the band! You have the right idea about the band, it sounds as if your expectations are realistic. You won't fail, don't be discouraged!!!

You might find one locally who has a good price. I'm afraid you might also be dissappointed. My local doc charges 550-600 for a flouro fill. That's each fill. It's 200 for non-flouro. So I'm doing the math...from NC to TJ Mexico plane fare is 300? maybe, transportation $50, flouro fee $70, misc $30 that's 450 buckaroos and the time it takes to get there and back for the day. hmmm, I might stick with Mexico if I need flouro. My band health seems okay and my port feels great so I'll probably stay local and do the $200 non-flouro fill. I did lots of research before I left for Mexico so I was aware of the flouro lab fee (70 for Dr Kuri) and that the cost of transportation to and from the airport was NOT covered for fills (only the surgery comes with cab service) plus the airfare, of course. I'm sorry you are dissappointed. I'm afraid you might be better off sticking with Ortiz for fills unless someone else knows of a nearby doc who 1)will see you and 2)doesn't charge an arm and a leg for cash pay flouro fills. The big rule on LBT is don't go to Mexico unless you have your local after-care lined up. Nice of me to tell you that now, right? I'm sorry. I'm sure you will find a local doc, but the Ortiz prices are probably better. Plus, you don't have to spend $65 on the one way transportation. If I end up going to TJ for a fill, I plan to see if someone here wants to meet me and share some transportation costs, and I even heard they have a trolley/bus/train? Or perhaps a city bus to the border from the airport, then cross the border, then catch a cab there to the DR office...a little less direct but less expensive, perhaps, especially if you are sharing with someone. Just some ideas. I wish you the best!!!

What medication for the mental hunger? That's a new one for me, but maybe not for others... As far as exercise goes, I am slowly getting back at it, but have never stopped walking. It's been over 6 weeks so it's time for aerobics and light weights for muscle tone. I can tell my body is ready. You will find that life with the band is very similar to the weight loss struggle before the band. You still have to watch what you eat, exercise, drink your Water, and deal with the mental hunger issues. If you use the tool (band) properly, you will get fuller faster and stay fuller longer, and eat less. This keeps the weight off, and the thought of gaining back is what makes you panic and give up. There are lots and lots of success stories on this board, and most, if not all, of us are dealing with similar issues as you are. You will certainly find some good encouragement on this thread, but I will encourage you to search around in here for the inspiration as well. You can do this, don't fret!!!

ooooooo, Bondgirl! Here you go!! I'm gettin' excited for you!!! So glad to have a "local" on LBT with Dr Bauman, who certainly would have been my surgeon had my insurance paid for it. You have to keep us posted! Have you told Eliza? She won't float over to the other threads so you'll have to visit her there in SC. She'll be happy for you too!! She's gettin a DATE!!!!!

That Robitussin is an expectorant and will help loosen that phlegm so it's easier to cough up, thus, less hard on your diaphragm and band. I'm not sure there is a better way to get the gunk out of your chest. Do you have an inhaler to loosen chest congestion? Water, your meds, rest, coughing it up and time are the best things for your bronchitis with pneumonia. I'm no nurse though, so someone else please chime in... happy healing!!

Hey! Put your goggles on and get back to work!!!

A reputable tatoo parlor? yeah, yeah, I know they exist, but it does sound ODD, right? I know there are a couple of tatoo/body piercing girls on here (according to the "what do you do for a living" thread) so I'd be interested in what they say, too. Speak up people!! Ya know, I'll bet if I looked up Cosmetic Surgery in the Yellow pages they'd have someone in there that does permanant make-up...hmmmm, this sounds like something for my birthday-oh, I just had it-well, I'll think of a holiday! Can't wait for the pic DeLarla!

Hopefull and Nurse4126... So, how were the proms? Did they have fun? What time did they get in? Did you age another 5 years while they were gone?! hehe Let us know how it went!!

Great weight loss Kendra! I'm glad you are well, and got back to us for an update, too! Gracious! Don't stay gone so long!!!

Wow! So is this a tatoo? You say it fades a bit, but eventually it doesn't fade any more, right? I'd be interested in lower liner, like what you got. I get tired of appyling it everyday (okay, so some days I don't bother) but for $140, not bad! Where did you have it done? That's neat! uh, post a pic?

I did this same thing Hamu!! It IS swelling and why it lasts longer in me and you I have no clue about, but just go slow. Milk will go down better than Water, so will gatorade or Boost. For some reason if it's a little thicker or slimier than water is gurgles down better. Also, warm chicken broth is yummy. Keep us posted!

Is it that time of the month? Oh, no, guess not, sorry Bobby!! hehe That tends to be a factor for women that effects restriction. Maybe this sudden 2 day restriction had to do with salt intake? What else could cause a bit extra swelling in the area that might increase you rescticition temporarily? Hmmm. You may be right about something (the roast) getting stuck a bit and causing swelling. Sounds to me like you are really in tune with your band and how it makes you feel and eat. That's great, I feel like I'm just floundering around so much of the time! I have so much to learn about my band, (sigh)

Give her some slack, she really doesn't get it. Just tell her, "ya know, please just support me." I'm sure she will. If she has a question, answer, if not, just do your thing. When I was reading your post (and Paula's) I was reminded of the book Jack had ordered about Normal Eating (just a sec and I'll find the link) that I am very interested in reading. Interestingly enough, just last night we had friends over for dinner. They are the nicest couple from church, no kids (her sis has kids they help with alot, big saga) and I cut his hair as an excuse to have them over every 6 weeks or so! ha! Anyhow, he struggles like I do with his weight. He works out, watches what he eats but, like me, eats alot of food. It's just all so yummy!!!! So he has a skinny wife and I have a skinny hubby. And this was the first time they have been over since my Band surgery, which they knew about, of course. So I eat a half of a turkey burger (he has a double turkey burger) and about 1/3 cup of guacamole with some tostitos (he had some, probably less) and a 1/2 cup green bean casserole (he had about a cup, plus he grazed while I slowly finished eating and hubby fed our son and dinner wound down) So I wouldn't say her went overboard on food, remember, I'm on HIS side!!! But he ate more than I was able to. So we impulsively pack up the van with them, us, and our 2 kids and drove over to their new home, under construction, to take a look at how things are coming along, then we stop at the Ice Cream shop on the way home. I nibbled on my hubby's cone and had a few bites of my daughter's, and he got a Waffle Bowl full of ice cream and ate it all... his skinny wife didn't really want any (?!). So I say this to illustrate "Normal" pre- and post-band eating. He will always struggle with his overeating and his weight. Like I said, I don't think what he had was out of hand, well, maybe he could have done without the big bowl of ice cream. I, too, will always struggle with overeating and my weight, but now I have a tool to help me. A year from now, I will be way down and he will be the same, heavier, or if he's much lighter, what's the chances of him being able to keep it off over the following year? If he likes to eat like I do (and he does!!!) he will gain it back. So I am happy with my decision. I'm not droppping like the gastric bypass folks, so I'm sure there are people who know me who are wondering when the big wieght drop will be coming...but I'm patient. I know a year from now, they will be much more supportive than they are skeptical. I can wait them out. Now for the link to that book Jack mentioned...Okay, it's a copy/paste but looks VERY interesting.... "The Rules of "Normal" Eating: A Commonsense Approach for Dieters, Overeaters, Undereaters, Emotional Eaters, and Everyone in Between!" Karen R. Koenig; Paperback; $10.17 Chin up, Hamu, we totally understand!!!!

Very cool! Any conclusions about the downward trends, what caused them or has it just been consistency and patience? In other words, during those quick slips downward, had you just had a fill, or not necessarily...are you getting my drift? If not, I'll come up with some new words because these aren't coming out nicely...duh.

I read up on the Chloe saga...wow. You are SO excused. God Bless you for what you have meant to that sweet little girl. So put your goggles on, get unburied and back at it here. And keep us updated on Chloe, too. What a story!! Oh, and where's my skinny? I'm 6 weeks post-op now and haven't lost anything since the 15lbs I lost in the first 12 days. But I haven't gained...

small sips of liquids only...it's probably reflux causing the heartburn pain because you are still so tight due to swelling. I know, I know, I remember well. It was only about 4 weeks ago when I was 2 weeks post-op and dealing with all that. it does get better if you keep your sips small. I'm sorry!

Here's your first thread... http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=7043 you had a few replies there, too. You'll get this site figured out in no time. Also, go here and do some reading, Oregon, right? Check this out for fun and informative reading... http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=3794 It's the Merry Bandsters of Oregon thread. You may find some locals with your doc there. Good luck!! Keep us posted on your surgery date!

It's SOOOO hard not to be paranoid, but, really you are doing fine. Erosion is hard to say, watch your medications (make sure you wash them through) but from what I have gathered, if you erode, you just do. It's very difficult to prevent. As for slippage, do what Ashley (Nikkee's sister) said and don't strain, lift, and for goodness sakes, eat slowly and carefully and follow your docs menu. Don't jump ahead on the eating. Keep you incisions cleaned and dry and lightly coated with an antibiotic ointment. Itching is a good sign, it means you are healing so embrace it when it happens! Here you are, doing this band thing and next thing you know you'll be past the healing stage and on to good long term weight loss! It's hard not to, but don't fret.

Back to the basics...I can think of lots of new threads that might interest you, so I'll be looking for you to post there...Weightloss Challenge, Walking Challenge, several sabatoage threads...look them up! If you don't post and show me you have been checking in, you gave us permission to give you a swift kick, right? You can do this!!!

Oh, I'll bet you like Dr Horgan, he sounds good. Does he have a separate support group for Bandsters? Or is it all together with the Bypass folks? I don't know what I'd do without LBT. With young children, it's difficult to get away for meetings so the 'puter is perfect for me. Keep us posted about cancellations. Hope one comes up soon! Oh, and my doc only uses the new smaller ports, I like that thinking too. Not that I'll ever be seen in public in a bikini even at goal weight but if I can avoid a pokey port, that's a good thing! I'm so excited for you! You are gonna do great!!!

I agree with LaMadam on waiting on the Chiropractor. I have never had an adjustment, but don't they twist and push and pull? Probably not a good idea with new stitches inside...you don't want to pop a stitch on your band OR port. 5 days out is still very soon after surgery, give your poor ole body a moment to heal. It reallly does get better soon.