kirajh

HAVE PATIENCE!! I was banded 8-16-07. I've had 5 fills and have another one scheduled Friday. The first four, I felt the same way you did. The fifth.............I felt it. Just going to tweak it this time. I have a 10cc band and now have 8.2cc in it. Sometimes it just takes a while to hit the sweet spot. You don't want the doctor to be too aggressive. It is pretty painful from what I have read here. I have lost 60 lbs so far and I can take pride in the fact that I have done it all by myself.:rolleyes2:

Katrina- You look great. One of these days, I'm going to figure out how to post pictures on here. Linda- My daughter is the same way. Just wish she'd break up with the boyfriend. Tell your DIL to GET OVER IT. Like 25k over it. It is your right as a gramma to shout it from the rooftops. To get appreciated? Go on strike. Cook for yourself. Let your husband or daughter cook for everyone for a change. Or you can always feed them hot dogs every night. LOL Karri- I knew I smelled something a little off when I got on here. Are you going to run in a 5K? You aught to make that a goal. Jackie- After spending months and months being super depressed, I can totally understand wanting to smile again and that happy feeling. I am feeling so good lately that everyone comments on the change in me.:tt1: Janet- I'm a day early but I don't want to forget........HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU.....HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU...HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR JANET ANGEL....HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU. It is your day. Have a good one. Did anyone tell you calories don't count on your birthday?? CELEBRATE:biggrin: Enjoy. Phyl- Thanks for the heads up. Appreciate it.

No, I posted about this study last week. I think it was Weds. It was on both ABC and NBC nightly news.

I pay $110.00 per fill. My insurance pays all but $20.98. I made a lot of calls to find a fill doctor and prices ran as high as $375.00

I was also banded by Dr. Ortiz. I live in Michigan and it is sort of expensive to go to TJ for my fills. I looked up bariatric surgeons on the internet and started calling all of them within a 75 mile radius. I asked them if they did fills on outside patients (most said no) but I found 5 who did them. I asked How Much. And made my choice that way. I found a great fill doctor. He doesn't use flouro, has me raise my legs and it is done in less than 5 minutes. Sounds like you had a quack. Don't hesitate to mention names so others won't have the same experience. Also, since you are already in Ca, wouldn't it be cheaper to fly to San Diego and go back to Dr. Ortiz? It has to be less than $350.00 to fly. Or hey, take a bus.

Phyll- 86 years old and shacking up with Uncle ED?? Man, that must mean they are still "Doing It." My mom is 86 too, and I just can't picture that. LOL Heck, I'm not even sure I remember what "IT" is. Janet- eating what's good for you or what you want?? You gotta eat what you want, once in a while or you will binge something terrible. Refrigerated cookies.....Thanks Janet.....they're stuck in my mind now. Except, mine never make it to the oven. I just love cookie dough. I walk real fast past that part of the store. I don't even look. Mango- alergic to 2008. That is funny. Love it. Do they itch too?? Blue- be patient. 199 will come soon. I realized the other day that everytime my scale hits that 0 number, it sticks. goes up and down, up and down and then finally gets past it till it hits the next 0 number.

Jackie-You look great. I can really see the difference. Phyll-loved the pic with your sister. I find that those type of pics don't come around too often. Just remember, when you start turning green, start building an ark. Steph- We all need naps once in a while. Watch it though, the last time I napped on a Sunday afternoon, I woke up and found out that my son and Husband bought a Mustang. Karri-Enjoy whatever time you have with your dad. We used to stop and see my dad after church every Sunday until my dad's ladyfriend informed us that we weren't welcome, that we were intruding on their time together. He's gone now, since 82 and I still wish I could talk with him. Janet-Go ahead, eat some good stuff. We all have to do it once in while. HAVE A GOOD DAY, LADIES. I HOPE I'M NOT MISSING ANY GUYS HERE. EAT HEALTHY,.

hI tONI I was banded in July and have lost 60 pounds so far. I am diabetic, type2. Meds are sliding scale insulin before meals, 2 metforman, 1 avandia, 88CC Lantis before bedtime. Now I only take the metformin and 38cc Lantis. Just this past week on ABC and NBC national news, it was reported that Australia did a study on type 2 diabetes. They banded one group and the other group just did diet and meds. After 2 years 2/3 of the lapbanders were cured. And the other group, just a handful. You can probably find out more about this by going to the news website.

Okay, guys. I was banded 7-16-07 and I just got restriction at my last fill. I have a 10cc band and have 8.2cc in it now. You may or may not get restriction at your first fill. You just have to be patient. It will come. You might niot think so but it will.

GOOD AFTERNOON LADIES.............. I am just checking in today as I don't really have anything to say. Don't want to be MIA. Kathy - Sorry to hear about your dad. Even though I know you miss him, take comfort in the fact that he isn't suffering anymore. Janet- you are messing me up here. I am the Kari with one R. Teacher Karri has two R's. ENJOY YOUR DAY. I'LL TRY TO CHECK IN LATER.

hI THERE Where in Mi are you from? Where are you being banded. I live in a tiny little place in Livingston County. I get my fills in Hillsdale and was banded in Mexico. Comorbidities are things like High Blood Pressure, type 2 Diabetes, high cholesteral, arthritis, sleep apnea. Basically anything that is damaging to well health. Good luck with your journey

tHEY HAD IT ON NBC NEWS LAST NIGHT.

Good Morning Ladies!!:wink2: I had to interupt my pedaling to read the posts here and to tell you about last night news. Did anyone see NBC News with Brian Williams? Anyway, Australia did a study on Bariatric Surgery and type 2 diabetes. They banded some, some were controled by diet and meds. After two years, the group that had the lapband........either 70 some or 80 some (my memory) percent were cured of type 2 diabetes compared to (Ithink) 10 -20% of non-surgical patients. I think they said there was more info on line. Linda - CONGRATULATIONS!!! Welcome to grammahood. It has to be one of the most wonderful places to be. With a nine week ultrasound, were they using fertility drugs? That is exactly the way my daughter told us she was pregnant last time. Slipped the picture into her Christmas card with other pics. Katrina - WOW!! I didn't know that about aleve. I take one or two every day for my bad knee. And the doctors know about this and they never said anything. What can you take then? Jackie - ONEDERLAND!! How wonderful. Congrats. Someday....... Karri - When I was banded (in Mexico) they told me no crunches for a year. Didn't break my heart. I hate sit-ups. (besides, I couldn't do one to save my life). Janet - I was kind of thinking along the same lines that my body was lacking something and I was searching. I didn't eat a lot of one thing, just a lot of different things........constantly. I did do extra pedaling though. Since 12-4, I have pedaled almost 1300 miles. According to my daughter, Cancun in around 1460 air miles from here. But,....alas, my bike doesn't fly. I GOTTA GET BACK TO MY PEDALING. HAVE A GOOD DAY. SEE YOU ALL LATER.

I'm back. I decided to come out of hiding. The past couple days, I have been pedaling lots. Been doing about 150 minutes a day. The scale is back where it belongs and I am back on track. I thought and thought and I don't know what triggered my binge this week-end. I just couldn't get enough to eat. I felt so-o-o-o guilty but then again, it sure tasted good. Today was touch up day and got all the hair chopped off. It has either thinned greatly or lost all it's body, but it was dead. Now it is short, very short and perky. Karri - How is the fill doing? Hope you're able to eat now. Peaches - Sorry to hear about your band. Are you going to have to pay again, or how does that work? I would hate to have that happen to me. HAVE A GOOD DAY LADIES. EAT SMART AND LOSE!!:rolleyes2:

Okay, before I admit to my sins here I just have to tell you Phyll, you look amazing. You should be so proud of yourself. You are looking really good. I am going to have to have one of my daughters post a before and after picture of me one of these days. OKAY FOOD ANGELS- Get ready..........I was really bad this weekend. I don't know what it was but I just ate and ate and ate.....like there was no tomorrow. Like it was the last supper. I just couldn't get enough to eat. So now today, I'm trying to get back on track and I am spending my time arguing with myself. I'm doing pretty good though. I've only had yougurt for breakfast so far and I've pedaled 81 minutes. Now if I make it through the rest of the day I'll be doing great. They say confession is good for the soul, so I hope confession is good for the cravings too. I'm ready now. Fifty lashes with a wet noodle. OH WAIT, not a wet noodle. I'll probably end up eating it. I'll check in later and let you know how I'm doing today.

I couldn't have said it better than WASA or Mindy. I have to agree with them whole-heartedly. So I won't waste my time saying the same thing. The only thing I want to add, is that US doctors are really good at milking the system and getting every last cent they can from Insurance companies. No wonder health care is so expensive.

Okay, Ladies. You are hitting a little too close to home for me. You see........I could be your mothers. The reason I was self-pay and went to Mexico for my band wasn't because of insurance. In fact, as far as insurances go, mine was excellent. I flunked the psych evaluation. It was either go to Mexico or kill myself. That was how depressed I was. I just couldn't live with myself as I was. Enough was enough. On a lighter note, once the decision was made and I took control of life, I felt a whole lot better. In fact, now when someone tells me how good I look, I don't know if they are talking about my weight loss or the fact that I am smiling and happy. That is how obvious things were.

Janet - I am from Michigan. Nowhere close to TJ Phyll - YES, by all means, give the man some slack. I just finished losing the 60 pounds I oput on when I quit smoking. Four years ago. Katrina - Was I always fat? No. I wasn't skinny but I was normal. I put on the requisite 20 pounds after marriage but I could live with that. It was after my first daughter was born that the weight went on. (I only gained 8 lbs). My hormones went whacky.......no periods.........weight went on....and on...and on. The dr. told me that my hormones probably is what was adding the pounds, and then again it could be the pounds that was causing the hormone imbalance. Finally, got pregnant again.........(Only gained 3 lbs)......then the weight went on....and on and on......Then, baby #3 (lost 3 with her)...Finally ended up around 230 pounds whech I held steady for years and years. (that baby is 22 now) I didn't really see myself as FAT. Then four years ago, I came down with Legionaires disease and almost died. Quit smoking and put on an additional 60 pounds. Depression set in..really down....finally the saw the huge woman in the mirror and decided to take control. I AM GOING TO DO IT. I AM GOING TO FIND THAT WOMAN I USED TO BE........IF IT KILLS ME. Twilite- Welcome. The more the merrier. and the more support we have. Karri - Good for you in joining a gym. There isn't one close to me and besides, I have a knee that needs to be replaced and it is absolute he!! to walk any distance at all, let alone RUN. GOOD FOR YOU!!! I have to settle for my exersize bike and pedal for my exersize. Haven't missed a day yet, but some days, I've only gone around 11 miles. I aim for 30. ANOTHER WEEK GONE BY. A COUPLE MORE POUNDS LOST BY ALL OF US. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK. LET'S WATCH THOSE SCALES MOVE DOWNWARD.

I asked someone what the difference was between the band and the sleeve because I didn't know anything about the sleeve and thought maybe that was the better way to go. Anyway, all I can remember is that I ws told that the sleeve is an old procedure under a different name because it wasn't a popular procedure.

I was on around four and when I tried to get into the michigan thread, it wouldn't let me. So I figure that must be when they were changing things here. I like the looks of it. It's nice and clean looking. Phyll - After the 31st.., I will probab;y be posting about spats too. I think I might just go out and find a job. Onederland - thirty more to go. Can't wait.

1st off, E-MAIL NOTIFICATION - My daughter told me she e-mailed me some travel info and I never got it. She told me to check my bulk mailbecause for some reason or another it gets filtered out as spam,. Well,. I checked my bulk mail and no e-mail from my daughter BUT..............LO AND BEHOLD, there were all these notifications from here. Anyone here know what to do to get my computer to recognise these as real e-mail and not spam? I cannot believe that you all think the same way I do. Or I think the same way you do. I look in the mirror and see FAT. I can't see where I have lost it, but I'm sowm 60 lbs. It really feels great to know I am not alone in my feelings.

Phyll - after reading your posts, I don't know if I should look forward to the end of the month or run in the opposite direction. (hubby retiring) Karri - know just what you mean. My clothes are all looser, everyone tells me I am looking good.....but I don't see it. Janet - Yeah, I like clothes on the loose side. I think you are right though. It is a self image thing. I do like regular waistbands, just been too long since my waist was smaller than my hips. Linda - I was going to try some small size jeans last time I was shopping but I was too afraid to. Because of my bum knee, I don't go shopping often cause it is too hard to get around. (unless they have those riding carts)

Janet - Yes, I have to admit...........my clothes are looser. In fact, my tops could maybe be a size smaller, but they would be snug. Now they are just baggy. And my belly is all prunish when I suck it in. LOL. Daughter thought it was hilarious. I also have to admit that size 22 is mostly dresses. My shirts are mostly 2X. Baggy 2X.

Okay guys..........I have a 10cc VG band. It has taken five fills to finally feel restriction. I am up to 8.4cc in it now and things feel fairly tight. Just needs to be tweaked a little.

I went to Mexico so I don't know how long sparrow takes till surgery. I am not too far from you. I live in Gregory. (next to Stockbridge)