Sugarbear

Are the Allergan and the Inane band the same? I have the inane band (old style). New one came out about 2 or 3 months after my surgery. Would have waited if I had known. It is my understanding it is wider and has the saline pouch all the way around the band. Didn't see how to click and see the pictures you are trying to show.

Hello all. Returned home from the 2008 National Lap Band Conference in Dallas last night. It was wonderful!! I wish everyone of you were there. There was a wealth of information about foods, nutrition, ect. The speakers were amazing. The topics were everything from sexuality to grocery shopping. They were all caring and concerened to our community of bandsters and very commited to our success. There was a Dr. Vuong that even volunteered to hold a support group meeting for any of us that wanted to attend at the end of the conference Sunday. One like he holds with his patients. I did attend and it was wonderful. I did see NewJulie there, she was decked out and "lookin good" for the party Sat. night. She will probably post something about the conference too. I throughly enjoyed it. Take care all.

Hello all! Got back home about 9;30 last night from the conference. WOW!!! Cher did a fabulous job of putting this together! I enjoyed every speaker. I am 1 1/2 years out from surgery. I still enjoyed the wealth of information I recieved. The facts about healthy eating, foods and nutrition were great. Most of all I appreciate Cher and all her hard work, and devotion to a community in need of support and education. It was truly an emotional embrace for all who attended. NOT counting the effort she put forth when everything was over and she was ehausted..........then took me to catch my train in downtown Dallas!! THANK YOU COACH CHER!!!!!!!!!

Better talk to the engineer, I am taking the Amtrak, LOL It takes longer but I think I'll enjoy it. Guess I'll find out soon enough. I'll be leaving the house in about 7 hours to catch the train. Whew, I better work on heading towards the bed. I'll catch up with you guys Monday. Have a great weekend/

I am comming by Amtrak. I'll get into downtown around 12 noon, Take a commuter train to the airport and then the hotel shuttle will pick me up from there. Looking forward to meeting everyone. See you tomorrow evening.

Hello everyone. I don't know if I will have time to get back on here or not tonight. I have to get ready to go to the Lap Band conference. I am leaving at 6:00 in the a.m. I am really looking forward to going. I'll fill you in next week on how it all went. So will NewJulie, she is going too.

Hi Teresa. I believe it was Susan that had a repair. Alotless, guess I did't realize you changed your name. Must have missed that when I was away from the site so much. I'll post next week about the conference. I am looking forward to it. Just keep plugging away, that 30 lbs. will be gone before you know it. The last always seems to be the hardest to lose. I guess you could go on the pre-op diet once a month for two or thre months, that will get rid of it. LOL I threaten to do that to myself often but can never seem to make myself to do it. Take care.

Minpinmom, ME TOO! I also have a Minpin. Hope I get to meet you.

Alotless, when did you get your band? I have more to lose than you but slooooowly but surely, I'm working on it. I am going to the conference in Dallas this weekend, I think this may be just the pep rally I need. Take care.

I am definately going too. Wonder if we are supposed to get a confirmation on our sign up for the conference? Guess I could email Coachcher. I am looking forward to this as well.

I wish we had a wellness center where I live. I guess the closest thing I could get to that is Texarkana. Just can't afford to run back and forth. I think lo2us said she did water arobics at the college in Texarkana. Also I believe St. Michaels had a gym that people can join. We'll have to ask her about that to be sure. Way to go alotless, only 33# to go! MY DREAM!!

Welcome skysmom! You will be sore for a little while so don't worry about that. I believe it is about the 4th day or so that you start in with adding protein to your diet. Your post op directions should tell you. For your benefit, follow them closely. I believe you can get EAS Drinks at Walmart 17 grams of protein. Thereare protein tubes at Joe Smoothies that have about 46 grams of protein. You only drink half at a time. Your body will only absorb so much at a time anyway. (a.m. & p.m.). Milk (skim) is another source. Sugarfree hot chocolate, ect. if you don't like to drink plain milk. Also you can stay with some Slimfast Optima. As time goes on and your post-op diet increases, eggs, FF/light yogurt, cottage cheese are pretty good sources. I believe there may be a thread somewhere on this sight about nutrition, protien, ect. You can browse through, or use the LBT search. Be sure to take your vitimans too. Come back and ask away if you have any questions, we are all here to help. Welcome to Bandland!

By the way Megan, there is also a Lapband conference in Dallas Oct 3- 5. You can attend all days or just Sat. There is info on this site about it if you want to check it out. I plan on going. You would probably get lots of information if you could attend. Should be fun.

Hopedtobebanded, hello and welcome. We are all patients of Dr. Hekier or Keilin. The support group meeting are held by their staff in Idabel OK and Texarkana, TX. The meetings are support group meeting. Their staff provides educational materials about nutrition, ect. Advice about what and how to eat, to-dos and not-to-dos. Sometimes we have a guest speaker. Some folks attend regularly and some hit and miss, some never come. I still enjoy them and I have been banded 1 1/2 yrs. If you follow your doctors "band-rules" you should do fine. Precision Surgery (Dr. H and Dr.K) site has information posted on there too. Sometimes about things we go over in a meeting. It is noscales.com. Also you may find a support group close to where you live. Some that live far off come every other month. It is all up to you. If you have any letters to send along from your pcp, or from any doctor that has treated you for co-morbidities, back problems, knees, high blood pressure, diabetes, ect. That may help in the decision on your insurances part to speed them up. Some insurances really drag their feet. Precision Surgery's(PS) staff gets things to them pretty quick, but they have to wait for approval unless you are self pay. I hope everything goes quickly for you. Good luck.

Xraigal, Welcome to Bandland. Becareful about your activities for now. Your port needs time to scar in place. (Kinda grow to the spot it was put on).For your band, much less chance of slippage if you let it get seated in place. The tissue they stitch it too is fragile. You have done so well, don't want to rock the boat now. Take care.

Will the clothing be exchange only or will it be like a garage sale where they might be purchased? I don't think I am driving so no extra baggage.

Julie, try to increase your protein, while cutting back on something else. Increase fiber if you can too. Those things help curb the hungries. I have been trying to have FF yogurt if I feel like I can't make it. Cottage cheese (low fat), is always another option. And of course...smalllll, slooow bites. I know that is hard when we're hungry. Good luck.

Julie was that cold sting on the missed stick or the second stick? I have never seen the NP. Sure it's okay but think I'll stay with Dr. H or Dr.K. Do you have a choice? I am a weenie about needles. Neither one has ever hurt me. It is always quick and easy. Had to have two sticks one time because she backed too much out. Only happened once and it didn't hurt at all. It always amazes me that it isn't painful. Hope everyone is doing well. Teresa, hope this fill goes well for you. I was thinking one time or two you had to have an unfil? Is that right? Anyway, You may want to look at it under the floroscope or whatever they call it, just for peace of mind. Really doesn't sound like it but you may be more comforatable if you knew for sure. Take care.

Everyone is different. I have seen some that feel restriction from the first fill. Many do not. It was several for me. Our stomach sizes are all different. Your band may fit your stomach opening looser or snugger than mine. It all comes down to controlling your hungry feeling. Some people get one or two fills and they have good control about not feeling hungry. Some take many more. Now head hunger is a different thing altogether. Most all obese people have to work on that. I certainly have. Many of us have to work out our emotional eating habits. Good luck to you. Did you know they are having a lapband conference at the Wyndham Hotel Oct. 6, in Dallas? 2008 Lap Band Conference. You can put that in your search engine, then go there and read about it. There is some talk and a thread about on here too. Good luck on your journey.

The Wyndham at the airport.

Amber, Your surgeon may also hold support group meetings and do things differently. I have read on several different threads the many different ways they do things. I like this thread because we are all under the same band rules ect. So be sure to check with your doctor in case we throw out any advice you aren't sure of. How are you doing on your post-op diet? Is it liquids only?

Welcome Amberstar! We are always glad to see new folks. Do you live in this area now? There are support group meetings at Wadley Hospital the 2nd Mon. night every month at 7p.m. They are mostly Precision Surgery patients but I am sure there are some that are transfers that have moved in from other towns. Do you travel back and forth to Dallas for your after care? Again, welcome.

I believe if you hit 0 you get the front desk. I have only gone in once inbetween appts. If you have any questions, as with any doctors, (not just Dr. K or Dr. H), be assertive...ask...and be satisfied with your answer before you leave. I have never had any problem with PS. Just be sure and ask for what you need and I believe you will get the results you want. Anybody going to the 2008 Lap Band Convention in Dallas? I am making plans to go, hope nothing comes up to cancel them. Actually I could use the get-away. New Julie is going but that is all that I know of from our T-Town group. Kind of expensive but I think it will be worth it. Take care everone.

Drink some warm broth, sugarfree hot chocolate, or hot tea. That will help relax your band and stay with the liquids.

OOOPS, meant that for XRAIGAL, sorry.