pati-o

Zoe, I can Definately relate to the whole bra trauma. I think My "buppies" look like a tired pair of tennis balls that someone let the air out of! Still though, I'd rather look like my chin could rest on my bitty girls then to have a pair of rocks in a sock. I just bought a top from Kohls that my DH said "Oh MY!!!" when I tried it on for him, all you need is one of these tops and one of your new Bras and you're good to go:) http://www.kohls.com/products/product_page_vanilla3.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=160419313&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=10635749&bmUID=1111937250377 Hal-lay-lou-ya for Lane Bryant~!!! Enjoy!!

I have to share it here, my DH is clueless about why my NSV's bring me sheer ~J.O.Y~. 1.Let me say I feel giddy inside. Like I'm a little kid and Christmas is coming, but it's every day that I feel this way. 2. I LOVE how my back feels soooooo much better, my hips don't hurt every time I sneeze, cough, roll over in the middle of the night, or when I bend over. 3. My house is cleaner, and I actually WANT to paint, redecorate, etc... 4. I'm actually EXERCISING!!! ME? Exercising??? Yes!!!! I can't believe it, and the best part about it is, I actually LIKE it!!! Plus, my sister, my best friend, and my neighbor are so excited that I'm exercising that they want to do it with me! 5. I'm a nicer mom, I feel like I am enjoying my children in a way that I've never enjoyed them. And I've only lost 22 lbs!! 6. I enjoy the "fun stuff" with my DH sooo much more (yes, the REALLY fun stuff!!) 7. My right knee doesn't hurt anymore, and it's been at least 3 years since it hasn't hurt! 8. My stomach is the flattest it's been since before I got pregnant for my first baby. I can't believe how great that feels. 9. I got to donate my sz. 22 jeans, and buy 18's. I havent worn that size since 1990!!! 10. I can bend over and not feel like my face is going to rupture from the pressure. Wow! What an amazing thing! I could list a dozen more. Most importantly, I feel like I have so much more to look forward to. And I want to add... I don't always respond to the posts on this board, but I do read them, and they are an important part of my day. Each triumph, every heartache, everyone elses scale and NSV's, every word of advice, wisdom and encouragement are taken to heart and have an important part in how I now see MY world, and my thoughts, prayers and best wishes are there every time I read someone elses post. This board matters........I wouldn't have gone to Mexico without everyones encouragement and advice. And knowing that this board was here for me when I got home was one of the reasons I went through with going to Mexico and got my "wonder band" Thanks to you all. You're simply wonderful and greatly appreciated!

Vines, You are in my prayers!

Hey petunia, I was banded 1/13 and had my first fill 3/7. It hasn't given me enough restriction to keep from being starved between meals. I'm getting all of my Protein, Water, exercising etc. and I haven't lost an ounce since my fill. I think I'll call to schedule another one too. You're not alone!

Ok, I didn't exercise today, but I started "walk away the pounds" and did a 1 mile walk the day before yesterday, and a two mile walk with cardio yesterday. Today was run,run, run, and by that I don't mean with my legs! All I've done is take my kids here and there, and now I'm pooped out and going to head to bed, I'll exercise tomorrow, I promise!!

Wow, Now I don't feel so guilty about how much I despise cooking. My hubby even got me a stainless steel commercial restaraunt stove for christmas (Yep, you guessed it, it's still nice and clean!), I just can't bring myself to cook like I used to before my 4 little picky butts arrived (Kidlets), they HATE everything I cook. I live in the boonies and the nearest take out is 25 minutes away.. Grilled cheese, mac and cheese, frozen pizza, ramen soup........ those were the days! Now I live on frozen precooked, peeled shrimp, canned veggies, and low fat crackers. Maybe we DO need a recipe thread:)

Get your second fill after getting your first one? I had my first fill on 3/7, haven't lost a SPECK, not one measly ounce in the past week and I am eating diddly. I'm not eating over 1200-1400 calories a day and I am trying to exercise. I want to schedule a fill, but don't know how soon to do it. Any advice???

MY fill Dr. doesn't use flouro. He uses an ultrasound machine to locate the port and then had me sit up a bit to show me what it looks like when the needle hits the port ( I told him I'm an R.N. so I think he showed me for my own knowledge, and maybe doesn't show everyone). He said I could come back in two weeks if I feel that my fill wasn't enough, but for the patients he places bands on, he recommends 6 weeks. he thought that because dry chicken got stuck prior to my fill that I may have had a bit of restriction from the band just being there and so I only got 1.0 cc when he usually starts with 1.5, maybe that's why he told me I could come back in two weeks.

Ok, so this is a late post to this, but my first goal is to lose 30 lbs. When I do I am going to the eye Dr. and getting contacts, and then I'm going to the cosmetics dept at marshall fields and I'm going to have those ladies show me how to wear makeup the RIGHT way and then I'm going to buy whatever it is that they think I need! I haven't thought any farther ahead then that. I would love to do something for when I get to Onderland, But that's Waaaaaayyyyy down the road for me.

Congrats Tony! I saw Dr. Pleatman yesterday for my fill. Everything went well. I asked him about how you were doing, he just smiled.. especially when I said that I knew he couldnt tell me anything because of the privacy laws. I got the impression that all went well. I definately liked him and plan on having him do my aftercare/fills/followup. let me know how you are doing! Pati

Zoe, Even though I know that my chances of hitting that "sweet spot" are slim, I am trying to mentally trick myself into believing that this fill will work. Even a teensy bit more restriction then I have now will be better then nothing. I'm hoping I can trick my stomach into it even though my brain knows better:)

Zoe, Thank you! I'm 7 wks. post-op, I haven't lost an ounce in over 3 weeks although I know I'm not supposed to lose weight in the first 6 wks and that any weight loss is just a bonus. (I have lost 32 total inches). I'm at a point where I keep thinking that this is it, and that I'm going to gain all of it back. I havent been making the best food choices, but I haven't made the worst ones either. I can eat ALOT if I eat it over a long time (an hr or so).I can eat bread with NO problems, but cooked chicken breasts get stuck every single time. I can eat salad like crazy, but pork feels like a golf ball, and comparing myself to everyone else on this board.. well, I feel like I'm somewhat of an oddball, being able to eat things no one else can, and not being to eat things that I should be eating. I just can't get into the exercising even though I really want to. I still have excruiating lower back and hip pain and knee pain so every time I attempt step aerobics or my treadmill, I'm in pain for 2 days afterward. BUT, every time I read a post like yours I realize that I am not the only one that feels/has felt this way, and that there is light at the end of the tunnel. My first fill is on monday. Do I expect restriction from my first fill? ABSOLUTELY! I just cant look at it any other way other then that It will be successful, and it WILL work. Your post is inspiring and just what I needed to get me through this weekend until I make the 2 1/2 hr drive to Detroit for my fill. After that, I have an appt. with my Family Dr. for this back pain. If it means I have to take Vioxx or Celebrex for a few monthes, so be it. If it means going to the Chiropractor 3 times a week, so be it, I'm getting rid of this pain SOON, so I can begin feeling better. THank you! Thank you! I can't wait for my 6 month bandiversary...and can't help but wonder about where I'll be, and can only hope to have been half as successful as you:)

So far I've only lost 18 lbs, but I went through my closet last weekend and got rid of EVERYTHING that I haven't worn in a year that was my current size. I got rid of all of the jeans that are starting to get baggy, and got rid of everything in my dressers that I haven't worn in a yr. I had 3 lawn and leaf bags packed full! I could hardly get the ties closed. Then I ordered a new t-shirt from Gap (sz xxl) AND got a couple of new sz. xl tops from walmart and put them into my drawers so I can see them each time I reach for a shirt. Yes, I'm afraid of the "what ifs", what if I don't lose weight? What if I lose it and only gain it back? What if My band fails?? But, If I don't try, then I'll never know, so I took the leap and decided that those old HUGE clothes were just taking up space and collecting dust!

My 9 y.o. son was on it for over a year. During that year we had to increase the dose a couple of times because it stopped working as well as it did in the beginning. By the end of his taking it, he was on reflux meds, vomited every day, had constant abdominal pain and the Dr. was pushing me do to an EGD (stomach scope) on my 9 yr old!!! NO WAY!! I took him off of it as soon as the school year was over last year and within a week his stomach problems went away. Now he is on Ritalin LA, with no weight loss or stomach problems. I have to say that my friends two kids are on it and are doing GREAT, with absolutely NO problems. I hate to give this advice, but its true: you'll only know how it works when you try it, there's just no other way, I wish that were different, but it's true. Just my experience with it. Pati-o

I've only lost 18 lbs since 1/13 (first fill coming up! YEAH). I started out at a size 20/22 that was uncomfortable at the end of the day, and I bought sz. 18/20 tops. Now I am into Lane Bryants 18 talls and can even pour into a sz. 16 (too tight in the waist to be comfortable). I'm 5'8 and currently 222lbs. My shirts are baggy and my scrubs are becoming very loose. I absolutely love having loose clothes!! What's even more amazing is how many inches I've lost! 5 inches in my hips alone!!

Daisy, I work in an outpatient surgery dept. and we do EGD's every day. They will put an IV in you and give you medication to sedate you. They may also spray your throat with a numbing spray. It's a VERY quick procedure, usually around 15minutes long. Don't worry, you'll do great!

One thing that I have to say that I LOVED about Dr. Kuri was that he handed me an operative report before I left Mx. It describes in detail my surgery, what technique he used, what suture, and how many sutures, etc. I also got the very first x-ray that he did to take home so when I go for my first fill (March 7th), I'll have the operative report and xray for the doctor to reference. I thought all Mx Drs. did this???

Lisa, I am so sorry that you've had to go through all of this. As a nurse, I just don't know how any of the docs. that you saw for the draining wound could blow you off the way that they did and refuse to culture your wound. For that matter, they could have AT LEAST given you an RX for a broad spectrum antibiotic to see if that would heal your wound up. It seems that all U.S. docs are terrified of the whole liability thing. I am lucky to have found a great surgeon who will provide my aftercare and even though his office is a 2 hr drive away from where I live I consider myself lucky. BUT... had I known what I know now, (I found this out just TODAY 2/2), I would have had him do my surgery in a heartbeat. My aftercare Dr. has a "package" deal. Surgery, hospital, labs, anesthesia, AND 2 WHOLE YEARS of aftercare including all fills for: get this.... 12,500.00. Hindsight is 20/20. If my band has to be replaced, I will have my aftercare Dr. replace it. Dr. Kuri was fine. But he's kind of like a car salesman, he knows his business, does a great job at it, but DON'T expect a call after you drive the car away "just to see how you're new car is running." I think the main difference between the U.S. and Mexico is the follow up.. It's just not the same. I hope you are on the mend, and I am so glad you found Dr. Billy. I sure hope that he will continue to give you all of your follow ups from now on.

Misty, I'm 13 days post op. I had a terrible time even getting water down those first few days, and found that warm liquids go down easier for me. And on the bathroom thing, yep, had to run to the bathroom for several days then didn't visit it again for another 7 (YIKES!). I agree on the protein drinks- I love the Edge Carb control drinks from wal Mart- they have 15gms of Protein in 11 oz, plus are only 100 calories and have only 2 carbs. I can tolerate the colder drinks now, so I like to freeze them until they are slushy and make a sort of milkshake out of them. As long as you're getting enough liquids these first few days you'll do ok, the better stuff is to come:)

I'm in Michigan and haven't heard of him/her. Where is this Dr. Located? you can check with Inamed to check that Dr. Kole was doing lap bands. The Obesityhelp.com website has some good info on weight loss Drs. so you may be able to find some more info there.

Way to go Bobby! Now I feel like a lazy butt, I haven't done a thing this week!

Babs, you're right about the therapist thing. Luckily we have been seeing someone for problems we've been having with our son. I think that she would extend what we talk about and go into the issue of weight loss and marital changes that go with it. Thanks for the idea, we go see her on tuesday and I'm going to ask her about these things. BTW- OH MY GOSH!!! Excellent job on being soooo close to your goal!!!!! I keep thinking that this is going to work for a while then I'll gain it all back like I've always done- it seems weird and unbelievable that I can lose weight and maybe- just maybe this time it will stay off. I think I'm still in disbelief. AND, today I got to have my first mushy meal...... grits and one super soft scrambled egg... I couldn't eat it all.. WOW!!! WHOS stomach is this anyway???? LOL

I have a question for the girls. I'm 7 days post band. My husband is kind of acting distant/funny. He told me he feels sad because I can't eat with him anymore and is worried that I will become "full of" myself when I lose weight, and I think he is afraid that I might change in more ways then just my physical looks. We've know a few couples that have split after one or the other lost weight. I was speechless, and tried to reassure him that I have no intentions of changing, and I reassured him that I can still eat with him, just not as much as I used to (quantity). Is this normal? has anyone else gone through this? Thanks for any input, I need advice!

Lisa, You are SO right. I do have to love myself more. One of the reasons I had to do this was because I have 2 daughters- what was I teaching them by having them watch me eat when I was bored, tired, angry, frustrated, nervous and on and on. They don't need to learn my bad habits- Hmmm.... I haven't thought about talking with him about it from that prospective. Thanks for your insight!

I had my band put in in Mexico. I found a Dr. here in Michigan that will do fills for me. His prices are 250 for the first fill, and 150 for each fill after that. He also offers a two year deal which includes unlimited fills, dietician visits and support groups. I don't know which to choose? If I only get three fills per year in the first couple of years, it will be 550.00 per year alone. How many fills are average per year? this is a respected bariatric surgeon and I consider myself LUCKY to have found someone that is only a 2 hr drive from where I live that will even touch my mexican band. YIKES! I need advice!!!