Dena

My heart goes out to you. I have to agree, you are doing this for yourself first and its your decision. I was getting ready for work on Aug. 25, 2005 and saw Dr. Spivak's commericial...called his office that day, made an appointment for the seiminar on Aug. 30th (or 31st), came home that night, TOLD my husband I was having the procedure (but later asked him what he thought, he said "does it matter?", which I had made up my mind and I don't think he could have changed it).....went to the seminar and had surgery on Sept. 16, 2005........I never did any other research until after I was banded. When hubby saw that it was working for me, he was banded on Jan. 25, 2006. No one can tell you what to do, and I don't know how I would have felt had my husband not supported me......but in the end I did it for me (and to be here longer for the family). I pray that everything works out for you, but whatever you decide, remember you are a beautiful person.....inside and out!

I have so much restriction in the mornings I can't/wont drink anything before 10:00 and don't try to eat anything til 11:30 or 12:00. I don't agree with sunsett, because my husband (he's also banded) and I eat the same dinner and he usually has a snack of some sort, where I don't and he gets up and has either a slimfast or atkins shake first thing. I just think everyone is different. I've never been a breakfast person, nor have I ever been a big drinker of any kind, but now that I can't drink water, coffee, tea in the mornings thats when I want to drink! I've heard that hot drinks will help open the band in the morinings, but that didn't work for me either. Best of luck to you!

I have UHC through SBC, now AT&T......I went to seminar 8/31/05 and had my surgery 9/16/05.......DH went to seminar on 1/20/06 and had surgery1/25/06.........the insurance required nothing more than a bmi of 40+ or 35 with other medical conditions (hbb, diabetes, etc). My bmi was 40 and DH was like 42 I believe. I'm very thankful that we were fortunate enough to have insurance that covered the band, I wouldn't have been able to afford it for a few more years otherwise (We only have a $20 copay and the first 3 months of fills are covered 100%, then $20 copay)...........now if only I can get them to cover a tummy tuck and boob lift!!!!!!

We went to see a movie a few weeks ago, DH went to buy tickets (I thought we were seeing Click) and he comes back with the Lake House (we never see "mushy" movies together)......because he thought it would be good. Turns out he loved the movie, I didn't! We did see Click and it was pretty good. My daughter and I were going to go see Prada tomorrow, but it isn't showing so we'll be seeing John Tucker Must Die (my daughter is 15).

Why sex, of course!!!!

I started having migraines in the 4th grade. For several years (through high school) I had them and then one day they just quit. I now only get them 4 - 6 times a year, which compared to when I was younger I can handle! I start seeing white spots when a migraine first starts, so I typically take imitrex ASAP and get to a quite, dark room. If I do this right away, I can usually ward off the migraine quickly......otherwise I get sick at my stomach and then it takes much longer to get rid of. Good luck on getting rid of them, they can be really nasty!

Well, I'll step up and be the not so normal one! Let me first say that I have been married for almost 17 years, and most of those have been great. We met in high school (we went to different schools) and got married right after graduation.....and we had a 3 1/2 year old son by this time. This is in no way an excuse on my part! A little ove 6 years ago, I began working outside of the home for the first time in 9 years. I met someone (who was a married friend of a co worker) whom we had lunch with a few times. He began calling (there were only two of us in the office and I answered the phones) and each time our conversations would get longer before he'd talk to my co worker. We had a lot of things in common and at the time my marriage was rocky....... I had already considered leaving. Our phone conversations and lunches (we were never alone at lunch) turned into meeting for a few minutes after work, just talking. These meetings got longer, altough we kissed and held each other, we never had sex. This "relationship" was very intense, but short lived. Intense being that this man told me over and over how much he loved me (his marriage was pretty much over at this point, and within about 6 months he was divorced) and that he wished we had met years before, etc.......I basiclly laughed at him and said there was no way he could love me, he didn't really know me......Anyway, my husband found out, and he left me (for a day/night). I was devestated, and he was in such pain, I couldn't believe that I could hurt him like that. You see, being married young, with a baby I never believed that he married me because he loved me......I never really wanted to get married, and dh will tell you that had we not had Josh we probably never would have gotten married. I talked him into coming home, we went to a marriage counsler and then I went to the counsler alone (I also was raped at 15 by two boys, one of which I knew and I never dealt with that)....and we both learned a lot about ourselves and each other. DH has said that maybe he didn't love me like he should have in the beginning, but at 18 who really knows what love is? I now know without a doubt that he loves me more than life itself, and I feel the same way about him. I do regret the pain I caused dh and kids, but I don't think had this not happened that we would still be together.

Like the others, I have also tried it and it did nothing for me but put a dent in my wallet!!!!

I bought a colon cleansing packet several months back and have been too chicken to try it. I have had constipation problems ALL of my life, and take daily prescription that is suppose to help, but like with everything I've tried, it works for a while then doesn't. I am suppose to go back to the doctor later this month, but he wants to do ANOTHER colonoscopy (the first was non conclusive - too much impaction).......and I just don't want to do that now (really because I'm having other issues and don't want to deal with that now). Something I have tried and works pretty well is warm salt (non idoized salt) water........there is a website (don't remember it now) and more specific instructions, but I just usually do about 8 oz and about a tablespoon of salt........do it first thing in the morning (which is about 10 am before I can drink that much)....it will work in about an hour or so, so I normally do it on the weekend.

Congrats..........7 more lbs and I'll be having a party as well!!!!!

We are spending the weekend at Crystal Beach and plan to go over to the park either Saturday or Sunday.........will let you know what we think....One of my clients took his family a few weeks ago and they seemed to enjoy it.

When my kids were younger we went to Disneyland and then the next year to the Pikes Peak (CO) area, then the next year we stayed in TX and went to the Frio River......that was 6 years ago. My kids are now 17 & 15 and that is the ONLY place they wish to visit. They love it there. Now don't get me wrong, its nice and relaxing and I really enjoy it, but I would like to see something else. DH says, we'll continue to do that as long as the kids are home and want to, then he and I will do what we want. For my son's graduation next year, I was planning on a cruise.....but he said he'd rather us all go to the River for 2 weeks (instead of one). We just got back last Saturday, the river was really to low for floating, but the kids (we took ours plus 4) had a good time. I usually take a few "Rick Trips" as I call them with friends, to see Rick Springfield each year.....in fact I'm going to Dallas in Aug., Hot Springs, AR in Sept. and he will be in Houston (Stafford) in Oct. Oh well, one day maybe I'll have exciting vacation get aways.

I can't make it to Grapevine, but cheers from Dayton! Your beautiful!!

I have UHC and had no problems either. In fact, I went to the seminar on Sept 2, 2005 and had my surgery on the 16th. My husband's "turn around" time was less than that......He went to the seminar on a Friday, had his UGI on Tuesday and surgery on Wed. We have UHC throuhg SBC/AT&T. Good luck with your new journey!

Okay so just this morning I was talking to a co worker about my upcoming vacation (next week) and how I wanted to loose 30lbs (this would have put me at 199) before we left. I was telling her I was kinda bummed, because I have only lost 22lbs (which makes a total of 59 lbs gone in 9 months tomorrow). I am thankful for the 59lbs, I only wish I could see it more.....of course other people see it, but I can't really tell that much. I guess I've given all my bigger clothes away, so now the clothes (hand me downs) fit and I want them to be bigger too!!!! Ok, back to my original thought........I wore a necklace today that I haven't wore in months...I don't wear it much, because it comes right to my collarbone and bugs the crap out of me, and usually end up taking it off mid-day.......well, I was sitting here talking to a client on the phone a little while ago, and I was playing with my necklace, when it dawned on me that it now hangs at least an inch below my collarbone......so I'm thinking thats a sign of weight loss I hadn't noticed before. Now I feel better and am not kicking myself about the 8 lbs I didn't loose...... Thanks for listening to me ramble on and on!!!!

I live in Dayton and work in Baytown.......would love to meet up with some of ya'll soon, but will have to skip the 24th (I'm leaving the 18th and wont be back til the 24th.......look out frio here I come). Keep me posted on the next gathering!

I haven't been able to eat anything til at least 11 am or so, and don't usually try to drink anything til at least 9 or 10......I haven't had a fill since 1/25/06. I've never been a breakfast eater, but sometimes I would kill for a bowl of grits! (and I have tried to eat them, but no can do)

I got banded on a Friday and came back to work on Monday......I'm an accountant, so generally have no heavy lifting........however on Wed. after my band I spent the whole day packing up the office/computers because hurricane Rita was heading our way........I did more than I should have here and at home, but I was just very sore and tired, thankfully didn't damage anything. Everyone is different, just know your limits and don't push them. Best of luck to you!

I never had hearburn before (except for when I ate cucumbers)....Now I tend to get it more, but its nothing rolaids can't fix. Now my DH, he had it very bad, all day and all night......he took OTC and RX, nothing really helped. He got his band 1/25/06 and has not had heartburn once since!!!!!

My father in law died on Feb. 10, 2005 and up until that point I had been so fortunate not to ever have lost anyone close to me. I was very very close to him. Long story short, dh and I were married (with baby) very young (18) and my mother in law didn't like me.......but my fil always made me feel special and I was very close to him. Myself and the minister were the only ones to speak at the service. It was the hardest thing I've had to do, but really made me look at my life a lot closer. My grandfather (the only one I have ever known) died the next day, so right after fil funeral, we had to make a mad dash to Arkansas.......

Interesting, might have to check this book out.

You did all the hard stuff!!!!!! Thanks again!

testing my signature

I need a ticker too, I just tried it, got a page error mid way........so I give up (I don't have much patience for that kind of stuff)....... Beach.....he was on GH back in the day........but they brought him back in Dec for about 9 episodes, and he still makes guest appearances from time to time.........of course I missed ALL of the episodes! He has a really good website (www.rickspringfield.com) and he puts on an awesome show, if your interested you should check it out!

Dena, 29 (for about the 6th time, I sometimes loose track....I think I'll be 36 in October, but I try not to think about it). I live in Dayton, Tx and work as an accountant in Baytown. I have two teenagers, boy 17 & a princess (her words NOT mine) who is 15 going on 25. I was banded by Dr. Spivak 9/16/05 and am down 56 lbs (started at 267). I probably could be doing much better if I would work a little harder with my band instead of me expecting the band to do all the work.......I am married (almost 17 yrs.......yes Josh was in the wedding pictures and I weighed 140lbs, and hadn't lost all my baby fat.....sigh). My husband got his band 1/25/06 and has lost 51 lbs........and I hate him for that (not really, but I am jealous). I'm very excited today, because I found out that Rick Springfield is coming to see me for my b/day......ok, well maybe not me, but for a concert in Stafford, TX. Yes, I'm a groupie. I will be seeing him in Hot Springs, AR in Sept., but will miss the Aug. show in Dallas. Last May I took my daughter (then 14) to see him in Dallas, and she fell in love, she is looking forward to the two upcoming shows.......in fact last Sept. when he was in Lake Charles, she was really mad that she couldn't go (at the Casino)......ok, so I'm way off topic here, but that is just part of me (and I also get side tracked very easily)..........Good to meet everyone!!!!