laraestokes

I like my beer and can still drink it- I just do it slower. AND my DH was hoping it would make me a cheap date and it hasn't yet. We normally go to Happy Hoiur every Friday with friends. I took it ver slow the first 6 weeks though, not knowing how I would do. I drank taps for a few weeks, because they seemed to have less carbonation. With Summer coming I was glad I could still have my beer for a nice hot day on the deck!

I would either see a Dr. that specializes in Bariatrics or see a surgeon who does and has done the lap band procedure. I had been seen a Dr. that only deals with weight lost for the 4 years prior to deciding surgery was the way to go. I am personally against having my inners chopped up and rerouted, but to each their own. My mother is also actually considering the lap band as she had a kidney transplant in August and can't keep the weight off and we don't want to ruin the kidney she just got from my nephew as she is feeling really good. Her Doc suggested RNY-but she is set like me and doesn't like the cutting up part and ? him on the lap band. He didn't know much about it, but said he was willing to go to bat for her-if it is something she thought would help control her weight. My mother told him that myself and DH had just had it done in Dec. She can not have surgery for a year after the transplant-unless it is neccessary-health risk. Which I would think with her history weight would be a health risk, but she has to deal with medicare-so God only knows what they think is health risk. Being obese isn't a health problem in the eyes of many insurance companies. Mine excluded-they were wonderful. Good Luck with what ever you decide!!!

Eve- I started at 280-so I know how the yo-yo thing goes. I was down to 220 about 3 years ago, just by watching my calories and walking. This was all also Dr. supervised as I was on 800 cals. Which as we all no is nothing in a day. SO he was very careful at watching me for malnourishment, the plus there is I worked at the clinic he practiced in. Anyway-In Dec my Hubby had the surgery on the 8-He has Sleep apnea-really bad-I wear ear plugs to bed!! Anway-he does get fustrated because weight lost is slower then RNY-but much safer. WE have a brother-in-law who did the RNY-and frankly he looks awful-because he lost so fast. I got my band on 12/28-and I am down 27 pounds and going. I love the band. I get full way, way faster then ever before in my life and You know it. There is no over eating when it come to the band, because you throw up (PB). ANd sorry-but I hate throwing up, so you are more careful about not taking that last bite, even though you are stuffed. I hope it help! I would do it again in a heart beat-the only medical problem I had was border line insulin resistance. I wanted to nip it in the butt as my mother just had a kidney transplant (8/04) due to complications with obesity, Diabetes and High B/P!!

Mine never uses floro either. I have only had one fill and he had to bring in another Dr. to find it. They gave me 1cc in a 4cc band. I have been losing about 2 pounds a week. some pbing if I eat to fast or any bread. On the other hand my DH has had three fills. the first time they missed his port completely. Second time-they brought in the Dr. who found mine after poking him for 15 minutes. He still had no restriction, so yesterday he went in again. And again it took both Dr.'s to get the job done. He is now at 6cc in a 4cc band. He said it was a little rougher with finding the port yesterday. But today he is doing good and can feel some restriction. Our Doc. always numbs us really good, I didn't feel a thing when they were searching for mine. My port shifted an incision length over-I had fallen on the ice 1 week post-op. They think that might have moved it around.

I got a tattoo on my arm like an arm band-a friends daughter drew the design for me and I love it, just got it this past October. My reward when I get to my goal is another tattoo.

I had surgery 12/28/04 and intially lost 13 pounds. I had my first fill of 1cc in a 4cc band on 2/1/05 and have since lost 2 pounds a week. I could probably do better if I would be more consistent with exercise, but I hate being out in the cold to walk. Sound like you already have a good routine going. Keep up the good work, the fills are a walk in the park! Keep up te good work and best of luck!

I found a ceasar dressing made by Kraft that is called "Carb Smart " and it is Ceasar. It isn't as thick as the "normal" dressing, but it is tasty!!

Chantal-Your sister and baby will be in my prayers and thoughts! May God bless you all!

Have you tried the chicken in the can or bags-not bad on a bed of lettuce!! with some ceasar dressing!

A very Happy Birthday to you Donali!!! And Many more to come!

Well Rich went in yesterday to see why he has no restriction after having a fill on 2/1/05 of 6cc in a 10 cc band. He had no restriction what so ever. Well the Doc. Missed the port. He thinks he got into it, but the saline must of went off into the side. I noticed on the first fill he couldn't draw anything back, but didn't say anything-next time I will. Yesterday they got 4cc in and could draw it back, so they knew they were in. Rich now knows whai I am talking about when I say I have restriction.

It is neat to watch the fill. Since My husband and I both have it, we went together the first time and Rich went back on Tuesday. You don't feel a thing!

Betty 54 Paula 43 Kelly 65 Becky 77 Carol 102 Alex 110 Nana~49 Rich 20 Larae 22 Total 542 POUNDS!! <!-- / message --><!-- sig -->

Our surgeon does not do the fills under fluro-and neither one of us have had a barium swallow. I'm thinking our fills are still under the 90 day global for surgery. Good thing I work in medical billing and know these kind of things-otherwise I would have not thought anything of getting billed for it!

Scotty-Best of luck! I also choose not to tell me very closest friend as she does not believe in weight lost surgery, and she is actually heavier then me and has some health issues that are getting worse as her weight goes up and down. I did tell her, but like 2 days before the surgery. I didn't want anything negative while getting approved by my insurance company. She was OK with it, but I was very straight with her telling her this was my choice and with my family istory of obese diseases I needed to do something. (Mother has HPB, and recently a kidney transplant due to diabetes is HPB.) You will find in your heart who you can use for support. Best wishes to you on your surgery!

Scotty- Good Luck with your surgery. I'm sure you will do great-like all of us. This board is great and wonderful for support. I did tell my friends even the "gorgeous" ones. One of them recently lost 50 pounds doing WW and looks great. The other friend is very slender and could blow away in the wind some days here in SD. I guess what I am saying if you really are close to them and you need the support-I would tell them. I am very involved in a small community to it is easier for me to be up front with them all as we have a lot of get togethers and food and drinks are always a plenty. It is easier for me now-there is no questions at the event. They all know what I can or shouldn't have because I have been very open with it. Some even make sure they bring something both the hubby and I can have. Hope this helps a little and Again best wishes on the baning. I look forward to hearing how your experience goes.

I don't know anything about the stuff in the corner, but I have found nothing but great support and information here. I have checked out a few different groups and this one by far is the best I have found!!! Everyone needs to keeps up the great information and support you all give out. I for one love the information I have gotten from here-very helpful and sincere!

OMG-thats a good one-I will have to do the pubic hair one-I do have one co-worker that asked if was losing my hair, I said no it is the only thing on me that is naturally THIN! She hasn't aske me again either!

Penni-thanks for fixing my pic. I thought my home computer was wacking out on me, cuz I couldn't see any picture or find them, now I know where they are at. Could you put an avator on for me too-you a computer genius!! Thanks

My next goal is just to get back into my 18 jeans. I am in a 22 now and they are getting to the point where I can take them off without unzipping them and just slide them off. DH offered to get me jeans for Valentines Day-told him that was okay I have about 4 pair of 18 sitting in a tub from when I lost weight 2 years ago and refused to throw them out, but my big clothes are going as soon as I am out of them, I may hang them on the clothes line and burn them to make sure I don't keep them around to fall back into. When I reach my goal of 150-definetly want another tatoo!!! Got my first one this past Oct. and Love it!

I am a blabber mouth , as my hubby would say. I tell everyone about my band, and if they choose not to support my decision I make sure not to discuss it with them further. I have found I get a lot more support from co-workers and friends if I am up front and honest with me. My husband is a closet bandster-except our friends and family know about it. My co-workers know about it too-I work in a medical Clinic and a few of my co-workers who have had gastric bypass are a good support too, even though the procedures are clearly different. The other thing is we live in small community and its hard not to notice when we start dropping the weight and are out walking more.(pop-230) The only negative I got from it was actually a close friend of mine who struggles with her weight and is having some medical problems because of her weight feels it is too drastic of a step for anyone to take. Thus we don't discuss my band as she isn't convinced surgery is a way to go. She thinks portion control is the way-well I know portion control didn't work for me until now, when you just can't eat that much and you start to choose your foods more carefully. I even had a older gal just about go bezerk on me as I was discussing with the pastor's wif how Rich and I were doing. She thought we had the bypass done, so I had to explain it to her. Not many people seem to know about in the midwest! I love my band and talking about it!

I have the 4cc band and got a 1cc fill on 2/1/05- I have a lot of restriction and thought of going to have some taken out, but water goes down okay, so I will wait and be careful with food. On the other hand-Rich has a 10cc band and had a 6cc fill the same day and has no restriction at all. He is going to see the surgeon tomorrow to see what is going on?

I know my port shifted one incision length to the left after my procedure. The doc things it may have happened when I had a near fall (1 wk post-op) and caught myself on the ice and myabe shifted it then. He didn't seem to have a problem that it moved-just documented for the next time I have a fill where it is at.

OMG-why is my pic so pig-help downsize ! please!!

Kimberly -Welcome and you are doing great. I found this site a few days ago and can not believe the wealth of information and support from this site. I have visited others and this seems to be the best one that I enjoy coming back too. I love reading everyones experiences with the band and the wonderful support that people give each other here. Way to go ALL BANDSTERS!!!