Sue Magoo

Isn't this tool that we have amazing! Congratulations. I know exactly how you feel. Keep up the good work. Sue

Hi: I picked a goal of a particular size. I started at size 26/28 and I wanted to be either a size 14 or a 12. I wasn't sure what weight that would be, but I figured that would be "average-sized". So, here I am at 176 I can fit into most 12's, and all 14's. My healthy bmi is 159 for my height, but I don't want to lose that much - too much loose skin. I don't want to be "thin" just want to be "average-sized". I spoke with my lap band doctor about it and I asked could I set my weight goal at 170 and he said because I'm in good health that 170 would be fine for me. So, I have 6 pounds to go. Unfortunately, it is taking forever, but that's okay because I have time and I'm comfortable at the size that I am now. Best wishes to you. Sue

Leslie: If you're not getting liquids down you should call your doctor. You can get dehydrated pretty quickly. Dehydration can cause very serious medical issues. I hope things improve soon. Please let us know. Take care. Sue

Jessica: Can you get a job that offers medical insurance? Good luck. Sue

Best wishes to you. I've had both surgeries and the lap band surgery was easier than the gallbladder surgery for me. However, I weighed about a hundred pounds less when I had my gallbladder out than when I had my lap band surgery. Hope all goes well. Sue

sugar free Popsicles helped me get through the liquid phase. Now I'm addicted to them! I have at least two or three sugar free popsicles at night when I'm watching t.v. Best wishes to you. Sue

Wow! You look so fit! Congratulations. $6k well spent. Take care of that handsome body. Sue

Daqui: It really seems like just yesterday my bmi was 51. Now it's 28 and I feel great. I started at 324 in April 07. I was banded 7/26/07. Today I weighed 176. I'm kind of stuck there, but just joined the gym to start some weight and resistance training to kick my metabolism into gear to lose these last few pounds. Being stuck at 176 beats the heck out of 320 and climbing upward. I love my band. It has improved my life tremendously. I feel 20 years younger. I hope your band journey is as great as mine has been. I've been doing alot of cardio over the past year and a half. I think it has made a big difference versus those that don't exercise. Best wishes to you. Sue

Cindy: There's some things that you don't mess with. Your heart is one of them. Please call your doctor asap! Sue

Alex: I put a posting on the "Post Something Positive" thread and it doesn't show up. It shows that I'm the last poster to the thread, but it doesn't show. What's up with that? Love the forum. Keep up the good work. Sue

Hi: Not a bad idea to call your lap band surgeon and keep him posted. You may want to discuss anti-nausea precautions with him for before and after the surgery. You don't want to have nausea brought on by anesthesia hinder your recovery. Best wishes to you. Sue

Sharon: I had a colonoscopy after being banded for almost a year. I drank the nasty stuff and managed to keep it down and it "went thru" my system. I recommend that you ask your doctor for the pill if possible. You'll still have to drink alot, but at least you can just drink clear Fluid instead of that horrible tasting stuff. Best wishes on your colonoscopy. The prep is so much worse than the actual procedure. Have a good nap. Sue

I think this picture says it all. From size 26/28 to size 12 in about 15 months. Yippee! I love my band and my life 148 pounds lighter.

Hi: From size 26/28 to size 12 (324 lbs. to 176 lbs.) in less than 18 months. I know it can seem so overwhelming to need to lose more than a hundred pounds, but it can happen, and you will feel great once your weight loss starts. I feel 20 years younger! Best wishes to all of my fellow bandsters. Sue

Hi: You have done wonderfully to lose the 70 that you've lost. Why not pick up the pace by exercising alot more? It can really make a big difference. I know, I've been stuck at 176 to 177 for about two months now, so who am I to talk. Well, I'm very close to goal and it seems to be taking forever. I am getting alot of exercise - cardio-type and toning (trikking). In the next month I'm going to join a local gym and try to use some of those funky machines to work on strength training. I ws shopping in my own closet for months and then I started shopping for used clothing and found that I really like to buy used clothing because I could get alot of things for little money. I would just wash them and then wear them and they've all been fine. Best wishes to you to kick off the rest of those pounds. Sue

Hi: I had a hiatal hernia repaired at the same time as my lapband surgery. I think they use a piece of mesh to keep your herniated stomach from popping up into your esophogus area. I know that I've had reflux and heartburn for years before being banded. I hardly ever had reflux since my lapband and hernia surgery. I don't think anything extra to do during recovery if they fix your hernia too. Best wishes to you. I love my band and I love not having heartburn anymore Sue

Hi: Not having food to comfort us through our mood swings can be a bitch! Alot of exercise can help deal with stress in your life. If that doesn't work, I think they make medication to help with the emotional issues. A buddy of mine that I walk with takes something to help her deal, but I don't know what it is called. She said it just takes the edge off of for her. Best wishes to a less bitchy you, will make for a happier household. Take care. Sue

Aivey: Besides considering their qualifications, when you're picking a surgeon keep in mind that this doctor is somebody you're going to have to meet with alot for the first year as you are going to need fills. After that you won't have to see them more than once or twice a year. So, pick someone that you like to see, and who likes to see you. Also, I would pick a group that has a good support system. I get alot from going to monthly support groups at my surgeon's office. I feel very fortunate that I stumbled into the doctor that I picked. He is part of a father and son surgical team. They have two great doctors and great office staff too. I think they've done about 250 bands now. They offer free monthly support group meetings too. Best wishes to you. I love my band! Sue

Hi: I don't know what would be causing this, but please go back to your primary care doctor and tell him or her that this swelling is bothering you and you'd like to find out what's causing it and you'd like to have a treatment for it. I hope it gets better soon. Sue

BBK: You don't suck! YOu've been unfilled which means that you couldn't use your weight loss tool. So, don't be so hard on yourself. When you're filled you'll drop those 11 pounds off in no-time. I was recently unfilled and gained 5 pounds in 5 days, but luckily I took them back off in two days by practically starving myself. I'm sure that's not good for a person's body. Being unfilled sucks. I'm guessing that's why they don't unfill everyone when they reach goal. We are "foodaholics" and we need the restriction that our bands give to us. Have a positive attitude and you can drop those pounds just like you did before. Don't forget, it may take more than one fill to get the restriction back. Take care and focus on the positive. Look how far you've come. You're a lap band star! Sue

I tried posting this question on the lap band complications thread and didn't get any responses, so I figured I'd try here too. About ten days ago I had to get unfilled because I was too tight to bend without losing my coffee, etc. Two days ago I got refilled. Yesterday I had pain in band after swallowing liquids so I had to get partially unfilled again. When he unfilled me he said he was going to take out all of the Fluid because there was blood in it and then put some new fluid in. I know I should have asked him, but I didn't. Does anybody know what causes blood to be in the band fluid? Should I be concerned? Has this happened to anyone else? Please share your thoughts on this with me. I feel pretty good today and it's my first day on mushies. No pain, no issues except over my port is sore and a bit swollen. Thanks. Sue

Thank you everyone for your responses. I'll wait it out and ask next time I have to go unless I start to feel sick. Best wishes to everyone. Sue

Nina: I got banded 7/26/07. I feel 20 years younger with all of those extra pounds gone. Best wishes to you in your lap band journey. Sue

Just wanted to bump this up again because I didn't get any responses. Has this happened to anyone? Does it mean anything? Sue

Hi: You have to decide what is best for you. It is not "the easy way out". It's actually a life-long change in your eating habits, and hopefully a life-long change in your exercise habits too. It has only been a bit over a year for me, but I know that this is the only thing that has worked for me. It works for me because I don't get hungry with the band. Also, if I want something I have it, but just a little bit of it. I am so glad that I did this for me. It has really improved my life and I hope that yours does too. Sue