mmh498

I am having my surgery on March 25th and will be needing a fill Dr. somewhere in N.W. Missouri, I hate driving and am not looking forward to driving in KC for this.

13 and 1/2 pounds lighter and feeling good! Went to wally world last night and got some different healthy food so I won't get bored with the same old stuff. Tried Kashi cereal for the first time, mixed it with nonfat yogurt and blueberries and I like it alot-I figure it is a great way to start off the day. Clothes are feeling looser, so that is exciting.

First pic-lost 11 pounds before I thought about a picture, 2nd pic was taken May 17th, 2008.

I had my surgery done by Dr. Alvarez on March 25 of this year and have NOTHING but good things to say about him and his staff. They went overboard on making sure I was comfortable and treated me with the utmost respect. I highly recommend him. Best wishes with your surgery.

Hi-I am in some serious need of help at the moment. If all else fails, I will go to the hospital, but am trying to avoid that because of finances. I got my first fill Thursday of 2 cc in a 4 cc band. I cannot even swallow my own spit. I thought maybe it was because of my port being swollen, which the administrator said could happen, but now I am beyond that and just know I am in serious health trouble. I cannot find an emergency number for the weight loss surgical center where I had this done, it was in Overland Park, Ks. If someone has it, please please email it to me right away. I haven't even drank enough to go pee in the last 2 days. Thank you.

Hi, We were lucky in St. Joe and missed the brunt of the storms-hope everyone is ok and that they don't have to add major time finding new routes to work, etc. Have a good weekend.

Hello-I too would try the anti-perspirant-has always worked like a charm for me. And if it does work for you, don't wait until you get a rash next time, go ahead and start using it in your problem areas every day. Best wishes.

Big Boned, I was banded on March 25th by Dr. Guillermo Alvarez and I have absolutely nothing but good things to say about him and his staff. My total cost for the surgery was $7500. Of course, that does not include airfare, but you can take a friend with you for no extra cost. Nice hotel room and the hospital was small but nice. Has computers in the room, internet, and a telephone, where you can call back to the states for NO cost. The doctor checked on me 3 times the day of the surgery, was very very personable, just everything I could have asked for or expected. Cosmos, you might as well put me on ignore because I will not write anything you want to read. I am not a coyote, I don't work for any medical facility, I am not getting any kind of compensation for my compliments to these people. I was treated with total respect in every aspect and would do it again in a heartbeat, but it won't be necessary, because they did an absolutely perfect job. I feel you could very well be a "fake", saying bad things about Mexican doctors to sway people's opinion that might be considering going to Mexico. I think you are a total ass and a liar, and had to laugh at your pointing out others' misspellings-take a look back at your posts and see if you can find the typos and the punctuation errors and then make fun of someone else.

Hoping it works this time, thought I had it right and then the pics disappeared.

Thanks everyone for your help-saved me a lot of irritation, lol. Marcie

Hopefully it works-I am tired and brain is not functioning all that great. Bear with me please.

I have been banded for only 3 weeks, but knew in late December that I was going to do it and started eating smarter and healthier. For me, this was a wonderful decision and I am very glad I did it. However, I am much older than you and even now am still way more overweight than you are. On one hand, if I had been able to have this surgery when I was your age, it would have been a Godsend and saved me an extreme amount of hard times, emotional, physically, etc. On the other hand, if you are not totally commited to using this band as a tool, and to making wise choices and exercising, a total change in your life, then I would not spend the money now. Maybe in a few years, you will be at a better place in your life, career wise, and emotionally. It is the total package you need to look at-financial and emotional and physical-if you are not totally commited to doing this, it will not work for you. Maybe it is just not your time-I had to be 46 and weigh well over 300 pounds before it was the right time for me in all aspects. I wish you well in your life, and whatever decision you make-take your time and make it for you and for you only, not to make someone else happy.

I agree with the post stating that bandsters, especially newbies, are asking for permission to go against their doctor's orders. I was self-pay and damn sure am following my doctor's instructions to the letter. I intend to get my money's worth, lol! I was on the liquid diet 2 weeks pre-op and 2 weeks post-op and am just now suppose to start adding "real food" to my new way of eating-I don't much like using the word "diet" for me, because this is a "rest of my life" way of eating, and now, because I got my head out of my ass, and my fat ass off the couch and moving, I should have a decent amount of "the rest of my life." It took each of us a long time to get obese, so 2 weeks, a month, whatever time your doctor orders you to be on the liquid diet, it is a small fraction of the time you spent getting fat and it is well worth it. No, it is not easy--I haven't had my first fill yet and sometimes I think I could start eating a table leg (think of the fiber!), but when I am about to have a fit from head hunger, I get up and go clean something, or better yet, go through my closets and dresser drawers and find clothes that are now too big for me and give them away--that is motivation! Then later, I eat a smart meal, protein first, portion controlled and feel good about myself and my control. Be strong for yourself and if it gets too hard, go to the before/after pics for motivation, or go for a walk, clean something, but get away from the food! I wish you all well, I don't like saying "Good luck" because there is nothing about this that involves luck, it is flat out hard work.