Spydr

It was one year ago today that I changed my life by getting banded. Boy was I a lucky gal! I was full of fear, excited and bursting with anticipation of what was to come next. I remember getting up the morning of surgery sad about what I was going to miss about my fat life, ie "bad food", but I thought it would be worth it. It is worth it! I don't miss out on as much as I thought and I can say with no doubt that I would do all this again. It was a rough road from time to time and anyone who thinks the lapband is the "easy" way out is mistaken. There is no magic bullet but with my band, I found a bit of magic within myself. I am stronger than I thought and I have made great progress. Thanks to all of you who have kept my spirits up and encouraged me when I needed it. I wish the very best to those of you just starting your journey and a big "Yippee" to those one the road to skinny! I can't wait to get there myself and every day I inch just a bit closer. I guess this is one of those happy threads. :nervous Here's to a lighter me in 2007!

As I sit here at the computer desk in my size 16s my legs are crossed. Who would have thought it would be a big deal? I always show it off to my friends. "Hey, guys check this out! See, my legs are crossed. Cool right?" :nervous They thinkg I'm an idiot!

When I flew last Yule I set off the metal detectors with my port. I'm not sure how it happened but I thought it was pretty funny and I spent the next few minutes telling everyone at security about my band. A few wanted one for themselves! I'll take any chance to talk about my band!

My aband tightens up when I flay after about 15 minutes. ONce we land, I'm ggod in a few hours but drinks are not a problem. Planning a trip next week so I hope my band and I don't fight on the plane! :heh:

I too was concerned with caffine. When you take away a soda habit of a 12 pack a day, I got it get the caffine from somewhere! Caffine can make you hungry but everyhting in monderation. I did not want to go through withdrawl so I have a galss of tea, cup of coffee and on "bad girl" days, a small light frappuccino from Starbucks. I get my caffine and don't endanger my band or my weight loss. By the way, Starbucks is a treat, not an everyday thing so keep that in mind! Good luck!

Well, I did it! I fit on all the rides at Six Flags Over Texas. Some I had plenty of room to spare. It was so nerve racking considering how I have not fit in several years. I was really afraid of the embarressing moment that might lay before me. I thought big and got on the Titan first. When the bar came down and I didn't have to breathe in, I knew it was going to be a beautiful day! I rode everything and couldn't stop smiling. I even did the big swing where the strap you in a suit and pull you up over the park and you let yourself fly. I flew all by myself and I gotta tell you, it felt grand. There is a DVD of me on the flying thing and when you watch it, you can see the moment that it hits me that I really am okay. I really am okay! I now can see what others have seen in my weight loss and it can only get better. Sometimes we need times like this to show us what we can't see in the mirror or won't hear from friends. I found the smaller girl inside me and you know what? She loves to fly! :girl_hug:

I am coming up on one year with my band and I have lost between 80 and 90 lbs depending on the day. It seems the time has come to see if things have really changed with my body. My best friend has decided we are going to Six Flags Over Texas this weekend. The reason for my fear will come as no shock to folks here but the skinny people in my life don't see the problem. The last time I went, it took 4 people to close one of the lap bars on a ride and it still pinched my skin. When I got off the ride, I was bleeding and I told no one. I was so embarressed. Even though I see the numbers on the scale are smaller and size of clothes in my closet have changed, all I can think is, "What if I don't fit?" I've cried over this too many times and I know it seems insane but all I've ever known was fat. I am just plain scared. I guess this is my mind playing tricks on me but it's hard to believe that you really have shrunk sometimes. Anyway, I hope you will think good thoughts for me on Saturday as I attempt to do what no fat person should. That is ride the Titan! I do this for all my fat friends who are changing their lives. It's my turn to join you and think this may be a big turning point for me. Deep breath....stay calm....here I go!

I was on the Depo shot and my doctor didn't ask me to stop. Hmmmmmm, oh well, I'm still here!

Peircings I have had in the past are: septum, tragus, anti tragus, tongue, both nipples, double ear lobes, industrials on ears, my nostril and the hood on my clit. I now have a ring in my right nostril and nothing else. I guess I got bored with the others or something. Nipples were the worst pain and after a while, my body started to reject the jewlery. Go figure. As far as surgery, even though I had a plastic spacer for my nose, they told it had to come out for the surgery itself. I had my friend put it back in while I was in recovery. The LapBand proceedure doesn't take long and if you have a friend waiting for you in recovery, they can help you put in your jewlery so you don't close up.

I have a scale in my bathroom and in my kitchen. I weigh a few times a day and then some days not at all. That's my favorite because only then do I see the big drops. The biggest scale change for me is I now get weighed when asked. When I used to go to the doctor, they would ask me to get on the scale and I would say, "No thanks!" They always looked puzzled and I would tell them, "I know I'm fat, I don't need to know how much." Now I beg them to weigh me so I can see the difference in pounds. Weird how life changes, huh?

I plan on doing this today. I finally went to the store a couple of weeks ago to buy clothes that fit and am down from a 26 to a 16. I have been walking around in clothes too big for me since surgery and it did affect what I thought of my weight loss. Now I see that it is very real! I will bag up my clothes today and take them away! It will be a bit frightening to have so much room in the closet but, hey, here is to new beginings! :clap2: Update: I just got back from Goodwill and the woman taking the clothes was so sweet. She will end up with some of them I'm sure. When I told her about my weight loss, she called to her co workers and I was there for 30 minutes boasting about my band. Life is good!

Is it just me or is anyone else ticked off when someone refers to the Lap Band as "cosmetic surgery"?

Great to see you guys. Well done on your progress. I finally went to buy new clothes last week and I am down from a 26 to an 18 in pants and from a 24 to 14 in tops. Feels good to wear clothes that fit! It has been a stuggle at times and I hate when a PB shows it's ugly head but I would do this whole thing again. It's the best decision I ever made and I shout about it to the whole world. I am half way to my goal and I can't wait to get there. Any other November 2005 kids out there? Don't be shy. We still need to stick together!

If I had wanted to, I could have gone from consult to surgery in 10 days. I chose to have 30 days of "last meals" instead. I was covered on Medicare and had got everything scheduled quickly. I enjoyed my last suppers!

I did experience tightness when flying. Just pass on the peanuts or snack and keep a cup ice handy if you need something. I could not drink but ice was okay. Once we landed, I was able to eat in a few hours so it wasn't so bad. The higher we were, the tighter I felt. Your mileage may vary shoudl be printed on all Lapbands!

I will wait and update of the 16th but everyone's numbers look better than mine. Congrats on that but know that I'm a bit jealous. Time to head to the gym and work my ass off the next 2 weeks.

Although your problem has been solved I just have to add my 2 cents. I did not have a BM until about 10 days after surgery. I was on liquids and my system had fluched itself out on the pre op diet. I was not constipated in the least. Once I began to add mushies, the bowels began moving again. My doc said it made perfect sense to him and I had no need to worry. If you stuck to the Clear Liquids pre op and full liquids post op, there would be no solid waste to expell from your system. I'm glad things worked out for you but I don't think you were in any danger. Now it's time to go flush!

I have only lost 44 lbs but I know that I will have the the problem you speak of. I have talked with several people who have hit goal and the answer to the question is plasitc surgery. Sometimes, the skin will just not come back and you need some assistance. I'm still going to work out and try to tighten all I can but I know that next summer, I will be getting a tummy tuck, boob job, and have my arms and thighs tightened. A girl I meet has had the band 7 years and and lost 210 lbs. When she was 30 lbs off goal, she got plastic surgery and they took 30lbs off of her in extra skin. It makes my goal look much closer. I can't wait!

I used to ride English years and years ago. My only advise would be the same as my doctor's no working out for at least 4 weeks. I would consider riding English a workout! Your body will tell you how much is too much but don't over do it and push yourself too hard.

Here's one for you: "I had LapBand Surgery." Pretty impressive, huh?

Ahhh, memories of waking up after the Band. My throat hurt worse than anything else. That tube did a number on my throat! My vision was very blurry and it freaked me since I had Lasik 6 months before. I thought they had screwed up my eyes. They should really warn you what it's like when you wake but I guess that's what this thread is for. They offered me pain meds and I took all they had! I then discovered the more I took, the longer I had to stay so I stuck it up so I could leave. It wasn't too bad, just weird. Good luck to you!

I have told everyone from family and friends to wait staff at my local diner! I show my scar and talk about what works and what doesn't. Since my banding in November, 2 of the strangers I've told about the band have scheduled their own surgery. I opnly wish all bandsters could be so vocal. I might have learned about the band earlier and gotten the help I needed. I feel like it's part of my lot in life to help others. I have a LapBand and it's working. Why would I be ashamed. I should share with everyone who shows interest so neither they nor the people in their life have to ssuffer. When thin people ask me about the band, they often have an overweight family member who needs help. I made a choice to save my life. I tried diets and exercise with no results. The Band works! If people want to blow me sh*t for taking the "easy way out" I show them the pictures of my insides during surgery and ask them if they prefer I had just checked into a cemetary. Okay, so I'm a little confrontational. I still think I should be here to help others find the Band. Someone did it for me. I just think we shoulod pay it forward!

I used to drink about a 12 pack of cokes a day. I drank them right up until I was forced to stop. I thought I could get away with having a soda once in a while. I tired a coke 1 month after banding and I was crying on the floor for about an hour with gas. It just hurt so bad. That was the last time and I don't miss them. Sometimes I think the bubbles would be nice but my re-trained body reminds me of the outcome and I grab a bottle of Propel instead! I feel your pain!

I have a 14cc band and my first fill was 6cc. I would explain to the doctor that you are paying cash and it is a very long drive. If you want him to be aggressive with your treatment, say that to him. I told my doc to be very aggressive and that I am willing to do my part. You have to be an advocate for your band because no one else will. You take charge and make sure all your questions are answered. Good luck to you and keep us in the loop.

I have lost a bit over 40 lbs since November 16th but I can't really tell. I too wish it was fast but I have to think about it this way: If not for my band, not only would I not have lost this weight but I might have gained some as well. As far as the need to feel full, I have now had several fills and I think I have hit the spot. I'm at 10.5cc in my 14cc band. I am super tight! I do miss eating but, trust me, my band is running the show right now. I do eat several times a day but that is because I can only eat a little per meal. Make sure you are proactive about your band and fills. I try to keep a "no fail" enviorment agt home but if I want something, I have it. I know that I won't eat much and I do work out so it all evens out in the end. The days of a whole pizza are far behind. These days I feel lucky to get a whole slice down. Hang in there gang!