Sue Magoo

Hi Hollandsmom: I will be your band buddy/mentor. I live in Norwood. I was banded last July. I started dieting on 4/23/07 at 324 pounds - (Yikes!) and today I weigh 192. Yippee. I started in size 26/28 and I now wear 16's and L on top. My goal is to get into size 12 pants. I'm hoping that I will be in that size when I get to 160 pounds. I'm 5'7" so I don't want to have my weight go too low. I don't want to look like a wrinkly old string bean! I love my band. I could never have lost all of this without the band. I've been exercising alot this year too. I'm 48 years old. I feel like I"m 28 because of all of the lost weight! I am the Mom of a great 20 year old Daughter. She's in college, but she comes home every weekend. I work full time as an accountant. I walk and trikke for exercise. I play cards too. I got my band in Norwood. Dr. Adam Glasgow was my surgeon and continues to be one of my biggest supporters. He is in practice with his Dad and they're both great. They have monthly lap band support group meetings for their patients. They have a very nice program over there. Even the office staff in their group is pleasant to work with. Feel free to ask any questions. I'd love to be able to help someone through this experience.

Hi Oceangal: I would love to be your band buddy/mentor. I was banded in July 2007, but to be prepared I started dieting in April 2007. I'm down 132 pounds - yippee! On the personal side, I am the Mom of a wonderful 20 year old (in 23 days she'll be 21, not yet) Daughter. I'm 48 years old. However, I feel like I'm 28 again because of losing all of the weight. I was married for 20 years, but divorced 4 years ago. I work full time, and play part time. I had been walking for all of my exercise until a few months ago when I bought a trikke. I love my trikke. I love my band. I never could have done it without my band (my belly cop). I go to a great surgical group. They have support group once a month and they're really wonderful over there. Skillful, caring, and the office is run very efficiently. It's a very friendly place too! I'd love to answer any questions that you have. Seeing that you're in Amherst and I'm in Norwood we'll probably never meet, but we could still be band buddies. I hope that you get your surgery date soon. Please ask any questions and I'll be glad to answer. Take care. Sue

crazycatlady: I have a 4cc band too. I started at 324 lbs. My doctor used to use the 4cc and the larger size too and they would usually use the smaller band on women and the larger band on men. Now they use the larger one on everyone because they had three people in one month that the 4cc band was too tight on and they had to reoperate on those three people. Good luck. Sue

Hi Wicked: I had a complete hysterectomy too. When they analyzed the tissues they discovered that I had adenomyosis too. The lapband is working for me. I've gone from size 26/28, 324 pounds down to size 16 and 192 pounds in 13 months. I started dieting 4/23/07 and was banded 7/26/07. I've still got 32 pounds to goal or whatever it takes to get to a size 12. Good luck to you. Sue

Berry: Sounds like you had a very bad "stuck" incident. I recommend that you call your doctor and see if they want you to have a barium swallow. I hope you feel better soon. Sue

Hi: I'm not sure when you were banded, but you need to make sure you start getting more calories in. It says that you're here in New England and I am too. With the warmer weather coming it's also very important to drink more. Talk with your doctor about a plan for your nutritional goals. You don't want to starve yourself because it will make you ill, bald, and could hurt your system. Please get some help and guidance from an expert. Don't be afraid to have what you need to have as the weight will come off. Another issue with not getting enough calories is that you will start to get exhausted all the time. Don't forget your daily Vitamins too (probably liquid for now). Take care. Sue

alv: Make sure you eat enough to get the nutrients that your body requires. You don't want to be getting sick and going bald because you're limiting your calories too much. You should speak with your doctor and/or a nutritionist to see what the lower end of the requirements for your health and make sure you meet those daily requirements. Take care and be healthy. Sue

Cindy: Congratulations to a fellow Massachusetts bandster for hitting the 100 pound mark. You go girl! Sue

You know you're a bandster when all of your tupperware containers are 1 cup or smaller.

I started at size 26/28 and 324 pounds, so to be a size 12 is such a huge accomplishment. I don't know how many pounds that is. I hope that it's not less than 160. Right now I'm 192 and I am wearing a size 16. I hope that 32 pounds from now I'll be down two more sizes. Most of my fat is now in my lower abdomen and legs. I'm starting to get the comments "You don't want to lose anymore do you?". I was a size 12 before I had my baby and she's going to be 21 in June. I'm 5'7" and I'm 48 years old. I don't want to be too skinny because then more of my wrinkles will show up - lol! Sue

catandnew: I got my band 7/07 and had my gallbladder removed 4/08. I'd have to say that it's a similar type surgery as far as the pain and discomfort goes - pretty easy. However, I think mentally it's easier than being banded because I didn't have to play the all liquids game. I highly recommend getting a panty-type of girdle because my belly hurt alot just above my belly button where the big cut was and because I had already lost 100+ pounds my belly was kind of jiggly. I put a size 14 bathing suit on and it was tight fitting on the belly and I noticed a remarkable difference in the pain on my belly because I didn't have the jiggly effect going on. I had my surgeon who did my band do the gallbladder surgery. When I had my lap band put in I had big issues with nausea so I had him unfill me for the gallbladder surgery as a preventative measure. However, I didn't have nausea this time so I got the fill put back in the day after gallbladder removal. Good luck. Take care. Sue

Hi: I love, love, love my trykke. I got it end of March and quickly fell in love with it. It's almost like an addiction. When I wake up and it's sunny I can hardly wait to get out on it. I live in New England and there's alot of traffic and bumpy roads. It works best on flat, smooth surfaces. Make sure you get a helmet. My first day riding it was riding around the complex where I live and these little boys were following me asking "Hey kid, what's that thing you're riding. It looks cool!". What a hoot - I'm a 48 year old kid. I'm not very coordinated, but I took it slow at first. I haven't actually fallen to the ground yet, but I still got alot of bruises on my lower calves. I wouldn't advise riding it down any hills because it will go too fast and that's when it gets scary for me. Let me know how you make out and if you love it like I love mine. Take care. Sue

Hi Drew: Why don't you show your brother how "lazy" you are. Challenge him to work out with you over the next few months and you'll both loose (and win by losing). It might be a good way to get past this issue with him. I'll admit that I used to be lazy. It's hard to be active when you weigh over 300 pounds. However, I'm more active than most and have been for 13 months now. Good luck. Sue

Hi: I didn't put in for short term disability, but another guy that I used to work with did. He had gastric bypass so he had to take a bit more time off though. Good luck. Sue

Becky: Thanks to you and Frangipani. We learn so much from those who go through things we hope to go through. Best wishes to both of you for quick recovery and fabulous results! I am a jealous fellow bandster. Maybe I'll be having plastic surgery next summer. I have 32 pounds to goal, and then the plastic surgeon that I'm considering likes someone to be at goal for at least 6 months. Best wishes for flat tummies! Sue

Bel: Thanks so much for your response. I'm looking forward to reading your future responses to others too. So nice that someone that's as young as you are can teach an "old dog" new tricks. Thanks again. Keep luvin' life. Sue

Hi Bel: Glad to see someone who's been banded for so long. Can you please just tell me what "after goal" life is like? Did you get your band unfilled? Did you keep losing past the original goal you intended? Do you eat much differently at goal than you did while you were trying to lose still? Do you eat four or five small meals instead of just three? I'm curious because I don't plan to change my exercise habits and I've never really had an ability to eat much at once since being banded. I don't know how I will stop losing. I'm not complaining, just wondering. Congratulations on keeping your loss for so long. I plan to do the same. I plan to be a very healthy grandmother in about ten years. Please share your tips and experiences as a long-time banded, at goal (or close) for such a long time. Thanks. Sue

Hi Allison: Last August I got stuck bad with tuna salad. I had to go to Norwood Hospital because I was stuck and had severe shoulder pain. Dr. Arthur Glasgow wanted me to go and have my band checked. Because I was hurling so much the doctor prescribed metoclopramide for the nausea. With my gallbladder surgery Dr. Glasgow prescribed Compazine suppositories. I know suppositories seem gross, but if you're already hurling then they work the best because you can't throw them up. I only had to take one because the nausea wasn't bad with the gallbladder. You should call the Glasgows and they can call in a script for you. Take care. Sue

Hi: The Glasgows are great, both Father and Son. Good luck with the process, and eventually with the procedure. Maybe I'll meet you at support group sometime. Take care. Sue

Hi: That sounds right. Don't forget this pre-op liquid diet is going to make your body get rid of excess Fluid. It's nice because you'll notice the scale flying down when you're in this pre-op all liquid phase. Good luck with your surgery. Sue

Jimmy: Good luck with everything. You will be look like and act like a different man a year from now when you're down 100+ pounds. I know I am. Take care. Sue

Larry: I have BCBS of New England. I had a $500 copay that I had to give to the hospital before surgery. I always have $500 copay for inpatient surgery, and $250 for outpatient. It has nothing to do with the hospital requirements, but my insurance copays. At Norwood they want it paid in advance. I went to Caritas Norwood. My surgeon was Dr. Adam Glasgow of Glasgow and Glasgow, Norwood, MA. They're great over there. The $500 has been so worth it. Good luck. Sue

Shawnee59: Try sugar free popsicles at night. Most of them have only ten to twenty calories. Another trick, I use an electric ice crusher. Crush up some ice and add a little bit of crystal light, then eat it with a spoon. It's kind of like a slush or snow cone, and no calories to speak of. Good luck. Sue

Hi: I would suggest that you put something in writing that says something about not giving him permission to touch your band. Then, schedule an appointment shortly after gallbladder surgery to get your band checked by your band doctor. Good luck. Sue

Julie H: I had my gallbladder removed in April. My band surgeon did the operation. It's about as much pain as the band surgery, not much. However, my big cut was just above my belly button, and that was really sore. I found that if I wore a high-waisted spanx to control it from being jiggly it helped alot. My band was fine and I've been losing since. Good luck. Sue