sweetiem1

I had this done about a year ago and I thought it was the bext experience ever. The photographer I used is at the website below. He is in Philly not NYC, but he is very talented. I drove two hours to him because I thought he had such a great point of view He does portraits, head shots, pin up and fetish. He will talk to you and find out what you want and will make it happen. I live the pictures he took of me and enlarged and framed two of them. it was a great confidence booster. Kevin C Loreaux

My sex drive has increased 100 times. I never wanted sex when I was fat and now that I am close to goal I never say no and most often are the one initiating sex. It may be that I am also 42 and feel at my peak. Never the less, I have a smile on my face every day. Transition is always harder mentally than physically. You may need just a little time for your head to catch up with your body.:wink2:

Mimi, Thank you so much for the kinds words. I think we are the only ones who understand how much satisfaction it gives us to maintain our weight. Pre-band, I never maintained my weight for more than two months. It does feel good to be pretty much the same for almost a year. I love the fact that I do not have to have so many different clothes sizes in my closet anymore. CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU TOO. Great job yourself. I understand the fear of gaining as I have it to. I think that we need to remind ourselves (sometimes daily :tongue2: ) just how far we have come. I will put my money on you remaining sucessful. I think you might be on to something as far as loosing fat in the stomach. I have gone down 3 inches in the waist over the last 4 months (lost only inches not weight). I tried a new excercise program and lost from my middle. I scheduled an appt to get a fill this am. I think your advice to get a small one is correct. Thanks so much for your help. Hope you have great holidays

Any advice will be helpful. Thanks in advance for you time. I feel like I am in a sort of strange transitional place. I am pretty much at my goal weight of 140 give or take a pound. I do not really want to lose any more weight, but at the same time I am affraid to gain. I have been at 140 for about 6 months. Life banded was pretty easy for me. I had few problems, vomited very little etc.. I had my last fill in October of 2008. At that time I was filled to 5.0. In the last three weeks I have had issues with vomiting and feeling alot of gas. My first thought was that I am eating too much. I do not have the same feeling of fullness and being over full seems to creep up on me. I went on mushies and liquids for a few days and feel much better with no gas or vomiting, just hungry. Once on solids again, I cut back on portion size and problems remained resolved. I am debating scheduling a fill and just taking me back to the 5 or slightly over. I was thinking I could maintain my weight at that fill but at the same time feel fuller. What are your thoughts? Have you experienced anything like this? :smile::confused::tongue::confused::confused:

You look great!!! Congrats

I was finally able to find a fill doctor in Norway. The information is below for anyone else that might need it. Contact Linn Bjørkeng Mærli Sykepleier, Aleris Sykehuset/Overvektsklinikken Besøksadresse: Frederik Stangsgate 11-13 | 0264 Oslo Telefon: +47 22 12 49 93 e-pst: Linn.Bjorkeng.Marli@aleris.no :tongue_smilie::redface::smile::redface:

:confused:Hi, Is there anyone out there in Norway? I relocated to Norway and I am having trouble finding a fill doc here. The rep from lap band does not return my emails so I am not sure where to start. If not in Norway, anyone in Sweden or Denmark? Thanks:confused::cursing::confused:

Hi, I was banded in the US 2 years ago. Since that time I have moved to Norway. I am having alot of trouble finding a fill doctor here. The lapband rep for Norway will not respond to my email request for information. I have searched the net, the local phone book, and asked my primary care doctor for information. I have come up empty each time. I was wondering if anyone out there knows of a resource I can use. I have also tried the message board for the elsewhere bandsters. I can travel to Denmark or Sweden if necessary. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance Thanks :drool:

Hi, I moved from the US to Norway about 7 months ago. I have lost 50 kilo with my band. I need a fill but can not find a doctor in Norway. I have tried to get info from lap band company and google but have come up empty. I am desperate for a fill and am struggling a bit. Does any one have any ideas on how I can find a fill doctor in Norway or Sweden? Otherwise, does your doctor in the UK do fills for out of town patients? Any info you can give me will help.:seeya::confused::blushing: Thanks

Hi, I am going to be banded in Oct in Denver. I am in the process trying to locate a fill Dr. in my local area that will fill for other Dr.'s bands. Any one know of a Dr in my area, NJ or even Manhattan that will fill? Thanks

smsmithart Hi, I don't see Dr K again until 4/04 but are willing to share a taxi any time. I travel from PA and always need to spend the night and it would be nice to meet some one else going through the same thing. LMK when you will be there again.

I am glad to have found all of you!!!! I am having the same experience of loosing very slowly or not at all some weeks. I thought I was doing something wrong since the other patients in my DR's office banded the same day as myself seem to be well "ahead" of me. I keep telling myself it is not a race, as long as I get there and do not gain it is OK. However, that does not change the fact that I get upset and discouraged. Sometimes I feel like I am too conservative on the fills? I am scared to be too tight since I travel from PA to Denver to see my doc and worry something will happen after I get home. I do feel restricted and I eat healthy small meals 99% of the time. Does any one feel this way? Glad to know there are others out there that are going through the same thing:smile:

Texas Rose I hate needles too, but for some reason I have been able to relax and stay pretty calm during the two fills I have had. I think I am just so excited that I know this needle is really going to help me that I can block it out. 3 sizes is awesome!!! You must feel great.

Wombat You are doing so well getting to your goal weight. It must feel great to accomplish your weight loss and be so close to goal Good advice to do a reality check of the diet and excercise every so often. I am going to write down my meals this week and take a look back at the end and see if I need to tweak.

MysticalKS Don't give up, you just have not reached the proper fill to use the the band as the tool it is intended to be. Speaking from experience, until my band was at the right fill, I hadn't lost any weight during the holidays for 20 years. You lost 6 lbs with moderate to no restriction!!! Get back in the saddle, refocus and get your next fill, ....you will be able to make things happen.

Hi Denise822 I was banded on Oct. 14,2007 My starting weight and BMI was similiar to yours when you were banded It looks like your weight loss has been gradual and I have found that to be my experience as well. I am comforted and inspired to see that you are close to your goal weight since I was feeling unsuccesssful as compared to some of the others who were banded the same day as myself. Many of them have lost an upwards of 35-40lbs and I thought I was doing something wrong. Do you agree that lower BMI's loose more gradually or do you think that it is just the fact that everyone is different? Thanks

I travel from PA to see Dr. K and I could not be happier. The support and concern he has for his patients is incredible. The staff is great and returns calls quickly. When I went for my first fill, I was alone and kind of scared. Natalie, the patient coordinator, held my hand and stayed with me the entire time. I plan to go back and have my fills there despite the travel. I am a self pay so price was important to me. I hope this helps.

Doc's are different, mine was no carbs for two weeks before and clear for three days before

Hi I was banded on 10/14/2007. On the day of my surgery I was 211 / 37.5 BMI since I lost 7 lbs before surgery. I had my first fill 4 week later and lost another 2 lbs since then. I seem to be stuck now and the scale has not moved for two weeks. I am eating more now, but until my first fill I had no appetite and was not eating much more than my 60 grams of protien in a liquid form. Did eating so little after surgery mess me up? I feel resticted, eat no more than 3/4 cup but the scale wont budge. Any ideas of what I need to do to start loosing again? Also, the incision that sits under by bra, often feels kind of numb. Is this normal? Anyone else have it. Any help would be appreciated

Wish you the best, I am getting banded with Dr. K , the day before you are. I also think the staff if great.

Hi, Can I pick your brain about Colorado if you do not mind? I am scheduled for Surgery with Dr K in Denver. Is the airport far from the office? Is Aurora a large or small town, (If I pick a hotel in that town will it be close to the surgery center or is it a large town and I need to go by zip code) My husband and I are coming in two days early. In October, what would you recommend for sight seeing?

Does your facility do fills for other Drs. (surgery performed in USA) I will be living in Maryland part time after the first of the year

What do you mean by your statement " I have scheduled my "consult" even though, I know what will be said." Do you mean that you are already informed or that you are concerned you do not qualify?

Is there a fill Dr. in Maryland who will work with patients who were banded by an out of town Dr.? I am looking at a Denver Surgeon. Thanks

Thanks, You have been very helpful. I have contacted Dr Spivak's office and another Dr in Denver. I too ,do not feel comfortable going to Mexico despite many other people having success there. My husband is nervous about the surgery and that would put him over the edge. I wish you the best with your journey. Thanks,