KarenB

I really like the new Slim Fast (the one w/fewer carbs). When I had to do liquids for 1 week recently, that's all I drank practically.

Babs, congratulations. You've worked really hard & it has certainly paid off. You are a huge (oh, I mean skinny) inspiration.

Michelle, I can think of a lot worse people to have an "affair" with. He is georgous & kind, and I think Dr. Martinez is too. My daughter fell in love with that little Spanish-speaking nurse--the nurse kept kissing & hugging Hanna & calling her "my baby". The nurses here barely give you the time of day...as you know my hubby is in the hospital & believe me, they are a mean bunch!

Chantal, age makes no difference. My mom still pushes all my buttons & is less than supportive. I'm 44 & it still gets to me. Congrats. on getting to size 16!

Dear Mousecrazy. Some foods are harder than others for different people to eat. Chicken is easy for me as long as I use hummus or avacado to "lube" it with. Bread is a problem for most people, but crackers & usually toast are tolerated. The only 2 things I can think of that really aren't recommended are asparagus & pineapple. But mabye someone else will tell you then can eat them. Some people have problems w/rice, some don't. It's really individual, but I'd say for the most part I can eat a wide, satisfying varity of foods. Please let us know how things progress for you.

The needle aspiration biopsy wasn't too bad. If Madeline's Mom is talking about the stereotactic biopsy, yes that was bad. But not as bad as not knowing, and 2 years later with a double-mastectomy & simultaneous tram-flap (from the abdomen) reconstruction, I'm doing just great! No chemo, no radiation, because everything was caught in time. It's a good thing you're taking care of it. You'll feel a lot better once you know results. I'm not trying to minimize your fear, because it is scary.

Or mabye the movie? Too bad they didn't go more into the lap-band on the View, especially when the other person's sister died from bypass surgery. Another opportunity missed. Oh well, I guess we're used to it by now.

I agree with what every one else has said. It's only 2 weeks & wouldn't want to have any problem in a country as poor as the one you're going to. .5cc's for one person could be like 1.5cc's for another. Everyone's so different.

I'm one of those who was told liquid advil/motrin or Advil liqui-gels are o.k. a few times a month. The only thing that works for me is tylenol (liquid) & advil combo for 2 days. Thermacare wraps did nothing. I can't take hormones, having had breast cancer. What does your doctor say?

I had steri-strips a lot when I had another abdominal surgery. You need to ask your doctor what to do. I was told shower, no baths, pat dry, and he wound up taking them off at my re-check. All docs have different protocals, so you really need to ask him/her.

Maybe you can refer them to yesterday's t.v. program "The View". There was one bypass and one lap-band success story. The lap-bander looked better, in my opinion. Oh yes, the bypass lady mentioned that her sister had the procedure a year later and died from it. That would have been a good time to point out the benefits of the band, but, oops, out of time.

Vera, I wish you a successful surgery and a speedy recovery. Best,

How sad that the girl who had the bypass's sister died from having the same surgery! They didn't talk nearly enough about the lap-band & its advantages; it would have been a great "counter point" to the dangers of bypass. Bummer. I thought Dr. Gabriel was going to be on. Oh well.

Michelle's right, I did forget about the liquid tylenol & gas-x. Absolute necessities. And yes, I did go back to TJ for my 1st fill. Feel free to PM me if you'd like. Best of luck and let us know how you do.

Sounds like one to me too. FYI, Dr. Ortiz performs banding after failed bypass, etc. This is not an advertisement or an offering, which can only be made by prospectus...oh sorry, that's my day job.

I was told coffee is fine as long as you had no acid problems prior to banding. If you had reflux leading up to banding, you should avoid coffee.

IMPORTANT. AFTER YOU PB, YOU MUST BE ON LIQUIDS FOR AT LEAST 24 HRS. APPARENTLY EVERYONE KNOWS THIS EXCEPT THE FIRST TIME YOU DO IT. I DIDN'T KNOW EITHER. AND AFTER DOING IT MORE THAN ONCE IN A DAY, MY PERSONAL ADVICE WOULD BE 48 HRS. I can tell you from personal experience, if you don't, you'll Get into a viscious cycle & close up your band. Please be very careful. Good luck @ the doc.

SanDiegoSue, Dr. Martinez says that occasional use of Advil (he likes the liquigels & so do I) is o.k. He doesn't recommend every day. He said using 2 days a month for my menstrual pain was o.k. & he also recommened it for that pesky shoulder pain that takes so long to go away for some of us after banding.

Dr. Rumbaut enjoys an excellent reputation. The article was mainly about poor plastic surgery outcomes & the one lap-band procedure they mentioned was not a good one. Someone please write who the doc was, my brain is fried tonight.

Oh, sorry. I'll have to clean it out & have been busy lately w/sick husband. The director of the study is Dory Feraro & her # is 914-787-4000, on Mondays it's 516 579-0094. She's great & has total control over who gets into the study. It's $12,000 total. I'll go clean out my inbox now. Hope this helps & feel free to PM me. Good luck, Karen

I got liquid hydrocodone before my banding & althought didn't need it that much, I was nice to know I had it, & when I used it, was great. It was also very useful for the plane ride home. Maybe that's why I don't remember the trip home!

Have you tried whole-wheat crackers or toast w/a little peanut butter? It works for me.

Hi Rachel. Who's your doctor. My adivice is PACK LIGHT. You will have to take that stuff with you back to the airport. All you need is a book comfie jamies or sweat suit, & wear on the plane back what you wore there. Slippers. Some people bring an extra pillow for when they cough post-op. I didn't have one & didn't need it. I travelled alone (my husband couldn't come cuse of our kids & I hadn't told my mother yet),not that she would have been any help!. I was totally fine by myself & went from NY to Tijuana. I made friends there that I am still in touch with. Feel free to PM me. It's coming up soon, & you will do great!

Hey Keri, Did your doc tell you to drink 64 oz. of water already? Most of us kind of work up to it. Nita, I'm so glad you're feeling better. I had the gas/shoulder pain for a while, but it was manageable, was able to work & all.

When I'm not filled, I can eat a slice of pizza. When I'm filled, a 1/2 slice does the trick.