Sue Magoo

Sweethot143: I plan to share pics when I hit onderland. Although I'm down by 90+ I'm still not comfortable in this skin! I'll probably get to onderland next Spring. I wish I was at 183 like you are. Some day...... Sue

Julie: Congrats on the loss. I was banded at 287, though my high was 324. It is amazing what a difference 90 pounds makes. I have my own before & current pictures. I look at them for inspiration. Reading about your success and others on the site inspires me too. Keep up the good work. Sue

Shawna: Look at the inamed website or google lap band doctors and try to find a lap band doctor or center in the area where you are spending your holidays. Maybe you can get an unfill from one of the doctors in that area. I hope you get better soon. If you can't find someone to do an unfill you should probably go to the e.r. for hydration via i.v. so that you don't get too ill. Hugs to you for getting better. Sue

Hi Shortgal: I have a 10cc Inamed band too. I see what others have for a fill and I'm really surprised. I got 1.0 cc's with my first fill. My second fill I got .5 more, so up to 1.5 cc's. About ten days after .5 was added I had to get it out because I was too tight - pb'd and slimed after two bites and had bad reflux. It's strange how you get the full effect of a fill up to two weeks after a fill. Two weeks after that I got .25, so now I'm at 1.25 and feel pretty good so far, but that was less than a week ago. Hopefully it will be good. I hear about 4 cc's and I can't imagine ever being filled that much - yikes! Hope you find your sweet spot soon, and me too! Sue

Allheart: Sounds like you are going through normal post-surgical uncomfortableness. Hope you feel better soon. Sue

Heather: I have had big issues with nausea too. I found that when I stop taking pain medication the nausea goes away. I swithced to liquid tylenol day 1 after surgery and the nausea went away. Hope you feel better soon because nausea sucks to have to deal with. Sue

Soozan: It's strange how it feels. I know it's very hard to imagine before you are banded. Strange enough though, you eat only a small amount, and you feel full for hours. I could probably wait until noon or later each day to eat, but I know that's not wise. The only time I've actually been really hungry I got kind of a nauseus (spelling?) feeling in my stomach and knew that I needed to eat something small very soon to make the uncomfortable feeling go away. It's only happened a few times. I usually try not to go more than five hours without eating something because it gets to be uncomfortable feeling. I do get "head hunger" at night sometimes when I am bored. I want to eat just because it's night time and I'm bored, not because I'm hungry. I try to have something very low calorie or go to bed early instead. I hope my explanation of how I feel helps. Sue

TXbandit: I was surprised at how exhausted I was every afternoon for a few months. It really was draining to me while I was healing. I was increasing my exercise at the same time as I was recovering from surgery. It took me about three to four months to get my energy back and it's actually increased since then. Best wishes for more energy soon. Sue

Hi everyone. This is so much fun! I have an XL jersey on today with size 20 pants. I started at 3X and 26/28! I can put on my sneakers and tie them without sitting down too! Yippee! Everybody keep up the good work and the nsv's will continue. Sue

Hi: Even though your surgeon is out of work you might want to call his office to line up any of the pretesting, like sleep apnea, nutritionist, psychologist, etc. It may help to keep things moving along while he's not available. Maybe the results could be waiting for him/her when he/she returns from medical leave. You've waited two years already. Congratulations on your persistance and finally getting approved. Sue

RonKat: I'm sure things will be fine. I think the pain is very manageable. I didn't take anything more than liquid tylenol after the first night. I'm sure I'll be jealous of you soon because I am guessing by your name that you are a man, and men lose so fast! Take care, and get moving soon after surgery to get rid of the gas. Sue

Hi Frenchvanilla: I have BCBS and they covered all except for $500 for overnight hospital copayment and $175 for the pre-op psych appointment. I had to have a sleep apnea overnight study too and that was covered in full. I don't even have a copay when I go in for fills - they're free for me. I feel like I'm a success story so far. I started at 324 back in April. I got banded on 7/26 and weighted 287 the day of banding. This morning I was 231.5, so I'm very close to losing 100 pounds in 9 months. It's much easier with the band than without. I hope all goes well with your bcbs and selecting the right surgeon. I think that can make all the difference in the world. My surgeon is in a practice with his Dad. If one of them isn't available, the other one is. They have a great office staff. They have monthly support group meetings at their office that are free to attend. I think that what you can learn from the other bandsters is so important. This site is great, but it's nice to see some of the bandsters face-to-face too. Best wishes. Sue

Candle: Have you considered an eliptical instead of a treadmill? I don't know what it's like where you live or work, but I walk around work and around at home. I like the eliptical for working out on. It's very challenging. I was fortunate because my Sister had one that she was using as a clothes rack, so I borrowed hers. I think that some people sell them on Craigslist used too. I hope you find something that you enjoy working out on. Take care. Sue

ebar822: You're probably gone now and on your way to a thinner, healthier, more active you. Best wishes for a quick recovery. Please follow your doctors orders for post op and you will be fine. Get lots of rest while you are healing. Take care. Sue

Hi: Welcome to band land. I'm surprised that you're eating soft foods already. All the doctors are different. I was on liquids for a couple of weeks, then soft/pureed foods. I have issues when I eat too fast still. So, I use a one-minute timer between bites. I bought a few of them on UnclesGames.com has board games, card games, jigsaw puzzles, dominoes, dice, and much, much more. They only cost about $1.50 each. They help me to be able to eat without sliming and pbing after by slowing me down alot. Hope all works out. Keep us posted after you see the doctor. Sue

Update... Name...........Chall. Start Wt........Current......Chall. Goal...........To Go Sue Magoo .................... 243.............231.5................230............1.5

Brianne: I am so jealous! I wish I was at the same restriction that you are. Sounds like you've hit the sweet spot. Sue

Hi: Mine was inpatient - overnight one night only. Sue

Rain: I was shoveling on Thursday (about 7 inches of dry, powdery snow), and again today (about five inches of very heavy snow after freezing rain on top) and my port is fine. My lower back is another story. Winter in New England! Sue

Minnesotalady: I would try to remember why you wanted to be banded in the first place to give you inspiration to get down the stretch. For me, my niece inspires me. She was born prematurely 15 years ago at 1 lb. 13 ozs. Unfortunately, she has severe cerebral palsy. She uses an electric wheelchair to get around with a control panel in the headrest that she uses to steer, go, stop, turn, etc. Her Mom recently found out she has multiple sclerosis. Neither one of them let their health issues get them down. They motivate me every day to be the best that I can be. They'll be needing me to help them down the road, so I have to be a healthier me to be here for my Daughter and also for them. That motivates me. So, put your headphones on and go for a long walk and think about how fortunate you are that you can walk, my niece Danielle has never walked. Don't be down on yourself. Fifty-seven pounds is a great accomplishment. If you weren't banded you could weigh twenty or thirty pounds heavier than your starting weight. Remember, it's not a race. I think if you consider your success so far it can be motivating going forward. Here's to your success so far, and also to getting to your goal in the future. Sue

Mr. James: I could have gone back to work in a week if I had to. I had plenty of time so I took two weeks off. I took advantage of being able to relax around the pool at the complex where I live. I was banded in July though. I could have gone back to work sooner but let me tell you that I was very tired each afternoon and took a two hour nap each afternoon for those two weeks. I think the body needs extra rest to heal properly. Best wishes for a quick recovery. Sue

Congratulations. I see that you have a new Cowboy fan in the house. I have to tell you that even though I live in Patriot land my ex-husband is a huge Cowboy fan. He goes to a game every year. I was nervous when I was expecting my only child, for fear that she was a he, because his name would have been Dallas! Fortunately, her name is Katrina. Congratulations, and won't it be nice to get down on the floor and play with your boys because you are slimming down. Look forward to seeing pics. Sue

Vanessa: I know you might think this is crude, but just let it rip! If you try to supress it you'll be more uncomfortable. Hope the gas subsides soon for you. I've never burped like I have since I was banded. Unfortunately it continues to happen for me. I think that it's one of my "soft" signs that I'm full, however I wish it would start sooner so that the burping doesn't last for a half hour. I still wouldn't trade my band in, not even for a billion burps! Wishing you success with your band. Sue

TX Bandit: I think I was getting depressed because I missed large quantities of delicious food. I still do sometimes. Then I think about the pounds I've lost and usually it goes away quickly. Sometimes if I go outside walking it helps too. Good luck. Sue

DNA: I had nausea right after surgery over the first 24 hours. I think it may have been due to the pain medication as I have a very low tolerance for that. If you have nausea issues tell your surgeon so that he can give you all of the medication possible to try to counteract the nausea. I haven't had any nausea issues since then. Good luck with your surgery and weight loss. Sue