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[(For example, MX has yet to wipe out TB,which is something we accomplished almost two centuries ago in this country] This is not true at all. 14,517 cases of TB were reported to the Centers of Disease Control in the US from the 50 states and the District of Columbia in 2004.

I was banded 5 weeks ago and I feel restricted. I read so many saying they are about this far out and are so hungry but not me. I know that I do not plan to get a fill until I am feeling hungry within a few hours after eating and when I stop losing weight for a few weeks. In the mean time I am going to be thrilled that I already feel restricted. I don't want any additional pressure on my stomach than it has to have for me to succeed. The tighter people get the more likely they are to have complications it seems. It seems logical to me that the tighter the band is on the stomach the more likely it is to erode into it. A long timer that went to the same surgeon as I did and is also a nurse says that once you get to goal you should get a slight unfill so that the band is looser on the stomach and will therefore cause less complications over time so I always want to be as loose as I can be and still feel satisfied and be losing weight. So there is my long-winded opinion. :biggrin1: Serena

I am 5'10" and I claim that my goal weight is 160 and I would be happy with 160 or even 170 but really in my head I know my goal is 150. I have looked and felt my best a 150 and that is ultimately where I would like to be but at this time it just doesn't seem doable. There is no reason you can't set one goal now and then change it later. Best of luck, Serena

The 25% of LBers having the band removed comes directly from the Inamed site. What it says specifically is: In the study, 25% of the patients had their band systems removed, two-thirds of which were following adverse events. Esophageal dilatation or dysmotility (poor esophageal function) occurred in 11% of patients, the long-term effects of which are currently unknown. Constipation, diarrhea and dysphagia (difficulty swallowing) occurred in 9% of the patients. In 9% of the patients, a second surgery was needed to fix a problem with the band or initial surgery. In 9% of the patients, there was an additional procedure to fix a leaking or twisted access port. The access port design has been improved. Four out of 299 patients (1.3%) had their bands erode into their stomachs. These bands needed to be removed in a second operation. Surgical techniques have evolved to reduce slippage. Surgeons with more laparoscopic experience and more experience with these procedures report fewer complications. So it isn't necessarily 25% of all bandsters but 25% of those in that particular study. Also I know of several people who have had reversals, called takedowns, of GB. Usually they have had to work hard to find a doctor who will do the takedown because their original surgeon doesn't want to do the reversal and damage his surgical statistics. Serena

I have been on quite a number of meds at different times but quit taking them all a few years ago. I am diagnosed with severe depression, generalized anxiety, panic disorder and post traumatic stress disorder all of which I still suffer from to one degree or another. I couldn't stand the way the meds made me feel and I hated the side effects. I have learned over the years that a panic attack will pass, anxiety will pass and a bout of depression will eventually pass. The meds made me feel lousy all of the time. Serena

I am fat because a mixture of some of the already listed things, most specifically a mentally ill family, large portions, numbing to much constant thinking and anxiety but I feel the biggest reason that I am fat is that I dieted myself to fatness. I first started dieting when I was 14 and in no way fat but wanted to conform and be more normal and my eatign was the only thing in my life that I had any control over. It has been one big revolving circel since then; diet until I am starving, eat too much to make up for it, hate myself, diet and starve myself, eat too much to make up for it, hate myself... All that dieting wreaked havoc on my metabolism and my general health. I used to have a lot of energy, now I have none. Three weeks banded, 21.5 pounds gone since beginning the pre-surgery diet and and I am already beginning to feel better. Serena

Hello All. I was banded on Dec 9th by Dr Pedro Kuri in Mexico. I am doing well except I have a hard time not comparing myself to others and how well they are doing. I know that weight lost during this time of healing is just a bonus and I am grateful for every pound that I have lost but I still find myself feeling jealous when I read about someone else losing faster. I just turned 39 on December 20th and this band was a gift to myself so that I don't turn 40 as a morbidly obese person. I live in South Carolina, am married and have two dogs. I have a blog that I am keeping in regards to my lapband surgery http://livinglavidalapband.blogspot.com/ which I hope others will find of value as I found other's journals of value when I was researching the band. I spent the last two weeks battling a sinus infection and fever which had nothing at all to do with getting banded and everything to do with spending the holidays with the ill children of my relatives. I still can't get myself to exercise. I know I should and I tell myself to and then I promptly ignore myself. I am nearly over the sinus infection and no longer can use it as an excuse. I was walking plenty before surgery but just can't seem to get my momentum back. Well I guess that I have ranted enough. I look forward to meeting all of you. Serena

Hi. I was banded the same day as you were, also in Mexico. How are you feelign now? Serena

Hi. I don't have any advice for you but I wanted to say hello. I was just banded 3 weeks ago myself. Good luck getting finding out what you need to get banded. Serena

I live in SC and I will be banded in Mexico on Dec. 9th. I am excited and a bit nervous. Serena