Bensmum1109

Vines, I agree with you. Not only does fat not equal ugly, but thin sure as HELL does not equal beautiful. I can't tell you how many times I have heard (or overheard) someone (like a co-worker or my Mom), say "even though she is big/fat/large/overweight(insert any decription equaling "not thin" here) she is really a beautiful woman" about me. THIS IS ALLEGEDLY SUPPOSED TO BE A COMPLIMENT.

Hey guys- Get some shampoo, scalp therapy, conditioner with NIOXIN in it. It restimulates hair growth and is recommended for chemo patients. Also, take flaxseed oil in any form you can tolerate and try not to overstyle, spray, curl, etc. I lost a lot of hair as well and I went out and bought these really cute banana clips with fake hair attached that matched mine. Every day I would only curl my bangs and hide the rest of my hair inside the clip. It looked cute, took 5 minutes to do my hair and gave the rest of my head a rest. I still use them sometimes.

Christy, PM me. I am in the mortgage business, and though I do not work directly with customers (I work with brokers), with a little bit of info from you I can tell you if a bank will refinance you to get the money you need for your band. I may even be able to refer you to someone in your area, depending on where you are.

Pepper, I was just about the same as you, same height, started a few lbs heavier. I am a size 14 now. I have lost almost 40 pounds in not quite 7 months and hope to be at goal by the end of the year. I was told (not by my surgeon, but please see my "doctor is a crackhead" threads) that my weight loss would be slower since I did not have a much to lose.

You gorgeous thing, you!! I think you are going to have to change your name to KellieNOBelly!!

I have a very large scar on my abdomen that is 20 years old and was opened and closed half a dozen times. My doctor also had a concern that he may have to open me because of the scar and scar tissue. He did not have to, so please don't worry!! It is simply a risk that they have to inform you about.

I used my weight at the date of surgery. I only lost 8 pounds anyway between my initial consult and my surgery. So I don't count them.

Kel, that would be so helpful, thanks!! I am willing to pay for it for him if he needs me to, but if I don't have to or if he could get some assistance that would be wonderful!

I have heard of our Aussie bandsters post on how the Australian Healthcare system is easier to navigate, cheaper, etc. My brother lives in Queensland (he is a student there and has lived there for about 4 years), and he is coming to visit in June. He has always struggled with his weight even more than I- and I have not told him I am banded yet. So anyway, when I break the news to him I would like to be better informed as to the process in Australia if he were to decide to try this. He is currently close to 300 pounds, I am guessing, and about 5'9" so he would certainly qualify from a BMI standpoint, although I doubt he suffers from the co-morbidities that I did. Anyway, what I would like to know is: what is the process? How long is the wait usually? What costs might he incur (he is not privately insured but in a student health plan)? Could there be a problem because he is not an Australian citizen?? Please help and feel free to PM me if prefereable. Thanks!!!!! P.S. Weight aside, he is a gorgeous man inside and out and needs a good wife:biggrin1:

Periods can be strange after surgery. You will get normal again, but for me it was months. My first period after my surgery was two months late and lasted 3 days. The second was 5 weeks later and lasted 8 days. I have been regular for the last 3 months and I have been banded for 6. I have heard of them being early, late, long, short, etc. Your body is going through a lot of physical changes and this is jaut a reaction to it. But don't worry!

My band is finicky as hell. Yesterday I had three pieces of string cheese for lunch, and 3 oz. of salmon and 3 small red potatoes for dinner and I was fine. Today I had a Protein shake for Breakfast, skipped lunch, and had 4 bites of salmon and one bite of potato for dinner, and I have had the golfball from hell for the last 90 minutes. Go figure.

I am currently a 14 and would like to be a 10, LOVE to be an 8!

Ask your doctor for Reglan or drink some decaf green tea...

When I PB, I find that I usually have to go back to the bathroom 3 or 4 times to get rid of whatever is stuck. Almost always if I just lean over or kneel down my body will heave up some of what is stuck by itself, but occasionally by the third or fourth time I am still trying to ease my discomfort, I will stick my finger down my throat in the hopes that I can finally get rid of it all. I don't PB very often, and try to be good about chewing and eating slowly. But it happens. Is this pretty normal for those of you that PB once in a while?? Or do you all usually get it out the first time with help?

Having the band forces you to make life changes that all of us were unable to do by ourselves. We have had major surgery and major recovery. We face potentially life threatening complications and additional surgeries. We get painful golfballs and have horrifying PB/vomiting incidents (come on, who hasn't at least one???). We get to have long scary needles stuck into our abdomens once in a while, and many of us also get to enjoy delicious barium cocktails. Many of us have lost some of the hair on our heads. We have also subjected ourselves to a lifetime of nutritional supplements, blood tests, and additional medications (my doctor has me on Actigall for as long as I am losing weight, and Prilosec as well). There will be wonderful foods (and beverages) that we will never be able to tolerate even one bite of ever again. Even healthy foods like broccoli, raw carrots, and whole grain breads. Yeahhhhh............. this is EASY.:faint:

Carole- I had 1CC for my first fill and felt NO restriction for two weeks following the fill. Then it hit me like a brick. Give it a little more time, everyone has a different reaction to fills. By the way, my second fill was a week ago and it was .5CC. This time, the restriction hit me about three days later. Also, with the first fill it was painless and I felt a little sore the rest of the day and the next day I was fine. This time, a week later as I type I still feel totally bruised and sore by my port (doesn't feel like an infection though, just still really sore!)

Such an eloquent description of such a disgusting experience. You had me cracking up. I am sorry to report that this happens to me about once a week or so. And my band is insanely finicky. And I am certainly not one to offer advice because it happens to me so much. But I will certainly monitor this thread to see what good advice comes from it.

You look AWESOME!!! I hope I look that good when I am down 50 pounds.

My Dad just said meat tenderizer is made from papaya. So that explains that! It all sounds pretty gross, but it's not grosser than barfing, right? But first, I am going to try Water and see if works. I'm with you, Karen, I am tired of the PBs. If it was my goal to throw up my food I wouldn't have paid so much money for the band. I would have just learned to be a bulimic :-(

Kelli, don't let Dr. Feng intimidate you. You are supposed to heal in your first six weeks of surgery, it's not really supposed to be about weight loss until you get a fill. But he will disagree with that theory as we both know. The funny thing about Dr. Feng is that while he is giving you a hard time about 800 calories a day and how much you are (or aren't) losing, he always does it in a very disconcerting manner, because he is smiling and happy and even kind of NICE while he is ripping into you. You and Karen (if she has ever had to see Dr F instead of Dr C) are the only ones that are going to understand what I am saying here. It's WEIRD. By the way, Kelli, Dr F hates to give you lidocaine before he fills you, but just an FYI, if you insist on it, he will do it. So if you really want to be numbed for your fill, don't let him talk you out of it! And thanks Dawn, you are so right!! I have gotten a second and third opinion, and 800 calories a day is unhealthy for me. It's unhealthy for most people. My surgeons participate in a lot of studies where their patients weight loss successes are tracked, and I think it is important for them to have all of their patients lose weight very rapidly so they look good to their peers. Whether it is good for the patients or not. I have come to rely on the advice my fellow bandsters on this board, and it has helped me on many occasions. I am happy with how far I have come and indebted to those who came before me, because they have also been the same struggles I go through. For the record, my surgeon is an Asian man who I am certain has NEVER weighed more than 150 pounds in his life.

Jess,thank you so much for the pics!! Now I know what to expect- and you are just beautiful!

Thank you Karen- I know you feel my pain. Anyway, I am pretty damn restricted. Unfortunately I had a horrible PB on the four bites of salmon burger and four french fries I had for dinner tonight. However, For the most part it is going pretty well, and I am happy with how much (or how little) I can eat. Still at about 1000-1100 calories a day and 3 pounds from being halfway there. I'm a happy camper!

My first fill didn't kick in until two weeks later in the middle of a convention in Las Vegas. I PB'd almost every single thing I tried to eat the whole time I was there!! I had my second fill today, and the doctor makes me drink 16 oz of Water before I leave. It gurgled a lot but went down. He alleges that I should feel restriction faster with my second fill, but honestly, I came home and had Soup and a Protein shake and still feel hungry. I guess I'll see how I feel in a few days.

Don't get an unfill! One of the things that I have finally discovered is that I enjoy food MORE now that I have some restriction. I really take my time when I eat to enjoy what I am eating because I know I can't eat that much. I can sip wine with a meal, too. If the purpose is to enhance the flavor of the food with the wine, I go for it. Because I have restriction, if I am on vacation or I am treating myself, I forgo salad, bread, etc. and really enjoy my entree. You will find with a fill that you can probably eat almost everything you want to on your trip, just less of it!

I have found that my tolerance is a bit lowered, but I can drink alcohol without a problem. I drink a glass of wine or a beer about 3 times a week, but I usually don't even finish it!