VegasGrace

Congrats! Keep us posted on how you are doing.

Wow, some story. I don't even have a card. As far as the community is concerned, I'm the same as everyone else. (everyone being Botoxed, lifted, sucked, implanted, etc...it's so common nowadays) I've been thru LAX, SLC, BWI, and SBY...security screens... not once did I beep or anything.

After listening to their sales presentation.... you must go with your gut feeling. Docs are businessmen and women... don't fall for a sales pitch!

I've given away the clothing that I've outgrown... outgrown? Lost weight and they don't fit. Has anyone else noticed feet shrinking? I've been a size 10 since middle school and even when I was 136lbs in the military.... but this time, my feet are shrinking. Have a pair of black heels from Nordstroms that I just purchased 2 months ago...and they are too tight. Size 9 1/2...but these are a tight so they may really be a 9. They cost $109.00, but if you want them, they are free. Just PM me. I have a pair of size 10s, black heels that are like flip flops on me, only wore them once. PM me if you want these.

It prevents me from eating too much. And if I do, my body expells it. This is how the band is working for me.

I've been experiencing off and on pain at the port location..inside my torso. Don't know what it is but it feels like a gall bladder problem...only it's the left side...had my gall bladder removed almost 10 years ago.

Yep, was banded in June and already have gotten the flu and pneumonia.... nah, won't hurt the band and that's because when anyone gets sick...they stop eating or decrease it alot. There won't be anything to throw up. That said...PUSH FLUIDS until you do throw up!!!! No kidding. What I've gathered from others is lack of hydration means a tighter band, more restriction. When you stop fluids, you get so tight that you can foam up...when this was happening to me I drank tons of fluids and if it spewed...it spewed. After a day of this forcing fluids, my band got loser... weird, huh? But this is what happened. So keep the fluids going!

I saw one a while back but it surely didn't represent. I'd like to know of any others out there w/ a bmi of lower than 30.

My current doc is like Forrest Gump's doc... a no nonsense kind. Get it done.... well, he says, if you are hungry...EAT. And if it hurts...don't do it My weight loss has been slower than most as I still eat normally, just cut back on quantity. But I have, thankfully, lost a taste for some junk foods. When I used to post I had to do a disclaimer that this is me and is not recommended. But WE are ALL different and what works for 1 won't work for another. And if I had to do liquids/mushies for as long as the book said...I would have cracked and surely done some damage. Not that I didn't try...but I'm a realist. Everyone chose their doc for a reason...so listen to your doc, you are paying her/him.

Your experience was the same as mine...and that's HOW I knew I reached restriction.

Boy, I hate that for you...I don't know what I'd do if my band was at maximum adjustment and I hadn't lost a pound. I just don't know... most people can lose pounds just by cutting back on what they eat. And if you have cut back on what you eat (due to the band) it seems logical that you would have at least lost a pound. I have cut back dramatically on the quantity of food I eat and I have lost about 1 pound every week or 2. Good luck and I surely hope they find a leak or something in your band.... at least they could get you to restriction... if you have the smallest band...maybe your band is too large?

I ate until I couldn't hold anymore,tossed it once, ate some more.... lost a pound!!!! (realizing all I can eat is just a few ounces....so overall I ate 1/4th of what I normally eat)

Since I've been with Avon...I don't do that anymore. I found my own way of getting 50% off without having to stand in lines or get up early. Just wish they sold XBox's...

I was curious as well...but glad you asked it. Own my own company called The Beauty of Grace and I distribute Avon products from east coast USA all the way across the US down to just past the equator. I also train other men and women to do the same. Buy Avon as a personal consumer or start their own Avon business. I started out as a personal consumer...single mom and couldn't afford retail...even at Walmart. So I found Avon and get all my things at a discount...50%. When it came to the band, I wanted a 50% discount, too...and I found a great surgeon who only charged $7,000. Guess the businesswoman in me stretches to other parts of my life. So, if any of you need to save money or earn some extra cash... contact me.

Crunchwrap from Taco Bell (and any of those wrap breads) McDonald's hamburger sliced sandwich bread

The band is not All of the system...it's just the appliance that gives restriction. I've heard of someone getting restriction just by virtue of having the band in place...but that's the exception.

Wow. I've had several surguries and have awaken at the end...just as sutures were finishing and the last orders given....sounds like what you went through. The pain... I don't know about that one as you should have had a general and even quite some time after surgery you should have felt (not felt) the effects of the anesthia. I've even seen on news shows where someone went under...but didn't go under... only had the muscle relaxant...so they were wide awake during surgery but quasi paralized due to the meds. They were able to successfully sue.

Yep, people who are going to die [morbid obesity]... some just commit suicide. And some of them get weight loss surgery ... and they still commit suicide. And some get weight loss surgery THINKING their lives will change... but ... they are still there, still them, and still living the same life. Then they commit suicide. There was a thread about list 10 things you are going to do after losing the weight...or something like that. Anyone thinking their life will change... is in for a rude awakening. The only thing that changes is: take up less cubic inches - clothing size, seat space pain can lessen (joint/back/etc.) from morbid obese to not - no meds for comorbids All underlying issues why someone got fat will still be there.

Hey, sounds like you can use an adjustment. But I went through this recently where I stalled for 3 weeks, lost 2 pounds but gained them back... I just hung in there and I've lost it, finally.

I think Dr. Phil wouldn't like this much as I've found him to say things like losing weight won't change your life... the underlying issue of why someone is fat will still be there. And, he's right. I like the lists of fitting into 1 seat, taking up less cubic inches, etc...but for thinking a life will change so dramatically just because someone is x pounds lighter.... that's got problems all in it. My life is not much different now that I was a hundred pounds ago. Granted, my back doesn't hurt much anymore and I take up less space but my life hasn't changed much.

Yes!!!!!!!! You, too? Weird as it sounds... I'll skip a meal dining out w/ the kids or even at home... I'll "nah, I'll just wait"... sometimes I just can't eat or if I had a bad sliming incident earlier in the day...just skip. But I rather embrace this as BEFORE...I only dreamed of thinking food was too much trouble. So I don't mind a bit.

Sure, you will hear about CareCredit as I see this alot...but wouldn't do it. Your best bet is to find a surgeon who doesn't rip you off upfront...or in the end. Next, look to getting someone else to pay... as in insurance. Also heard if you work at Starbucks their insurance will pay. But as far as financing, get a low as possible interest rate. I used my overdraft protection/line of credit. credit unions often times have the lowest interest. Good luck.

Just came back from Vegas as this is the first time I've been since being banded this summer.... wow! Circus Circus Breakfast buffet to the Golden Nugget brunch... I was worried I'd gain weight with all the food, sodas, junk basically...I lost a pound. :scared: Being banded is wonderful as I can enjoy food but the band keeps me in check as it won't allow me to binge. Can't wait til Thanksgiving in a few days...and I thought I would be restricted in what I eat...only quantity. {reality - I had a teaspoon of everything... a sampling of the buffet...it's not like I ate a ton, I had seconds of what I really liked}

I so know what you mean, insubordination...I used to revolve my life around food. Everything was food or fixin' to be food. Life is so much better now that my life isn't about food.

Let's see...on the way to Vegas we had Mc Donalds...but I skipped that one....I can't tolerate their breakfast well. lunch was Sonic and a frito wrap (it's corn chips w/ chili and cheese) I open up the wrap and eat the chips w a fork. That w/ a coke. dinner was pizza in the hotel room... that did get slimed back up. Breakfast at a buffet was a few bites of a blueberry muffin, grits, eggs, sausage, bacon, biscuits and gravy, OJ, Apple juice, a sweet roll, pancake roll w/ this apple stuff inside. I had a bite or so of each but surprisingly I was able to have an entire biscuit w/ gravy. Lunch was food court at Nellis AFB, pizza and a coke. Just ate a few bites of the pizza. Supper was Margaritaville and I had a cuban sandwich, nachos and a virgin pina colada... the nachos went down well, 1 bite of the sandwich I knew it wouldn't go down...but that 1 bite did but I didn't eat anymore of it. Gave the fried to my daughter. Had a McRib sandwich from McDonalds after the circus act about 10pm and I paid for it the rest of the night...kept waking up foaming/sliming it up. Brunch Sunday was another buffet, had Apple Juice and a coke...Frosted Flakes, eggs, grits, bacon, ...kinda the same as the day before. I slimed up breakfast there. Now, this isn't a daily thing for me...so don't assume anyone can eat like this... but the joy came from being able to take a bite or two...and being satisfied.