Sugarbear

I would like to hear from some Texarkana Bandsters about their experiences. re: doctors, pre and post surgery, and how things are going for them now. I am considering the lap band.

Hello again Armonet. Refering to the amount of fills you get to reach that "sweet spot," it varies. I have a friend that lost most of her weight on one fill. Reached her goal on the second fill. It took me four or five. With the exception of one pregnancy, she has maintained that weight very well. As hard as it is, just be patient. There is no standard rule that fits everyone when it comes to fills. How the bands fits around your opening to the stomach may be completely different than others. Some may be smaller or larger. The amount put in the band may vary a little also. So you can see the amount of fills will vary also. I always tell my fellow bandsters we didn't reach this weight over night and we aren't going to reach our goal overnight either. Just know that you are heading in the right direction on your weightloss journey. I hope you took a good look at the figure you saw on the scale before you started this journey because you are NEVER going to see it again! There are support group meetings in Texarkana by Precision Surgery. I don't know if you have been attending them or not. But they are a good source of support especially when you are a new patient. I went to them a year following my surgery. Good luck on your journey. f Follow the Band Rules, you will do fine.

I mean the alerts don't always work.

Hello and welcome Armonet. I haven't been on here in a long time. I did recieve an alert through my email on your post. That is the first one of those that I've had in a long time. I still have my band and glad that I do. I have to admit that I don't always use it wisely. It is a great tool but of course it is up to us to use it wisely. It has been quite a while since my surgery. I probably stay within a 6 or 8 pound spread. I started this thread back then because I really wanted to interact with people that used Precision Surgery. I learned lots of important information before my surgery as well as afterwards. It was a great deal of help. I noticed the thread slowing down and was depending on the alerts through email to help answer questions but those apparently always work. Some of us oldies have our emails listed in our profiles. So if you don't get a reply through the threads, most all of us will be glad to answer through emails. After several years we don't seem to be as active on the posts but I am sure most are still willing to help. I know I was on here all the time when I got started on my journey. Feel free to email if you need any help.

How the band fits around the size of the opening into your stomach varies from person to person. Sometimes the fills are trial and error. The doctors have to go by what you tell them. Also they are usually careful to add Fluid in small increments, to prevent over filling. In other words, how my band fits me and how your band fits you may be totally different. Even if we have the same size band. I have chatted with some that get two fills and they are at a perfect spot. Some may take several more to reach that sweet spot. When you reach that sweet spot...you have to obey the rules of the band. Otherwise the it won't feel like your sweet spot. Take care and good luck to you. Welcome to Bandland !

I see this thread isn't near as active as it used to be. But I have a tidbit of info to share, just in case some one is visiting this site and thread. I have a friend that got the lapband. She has loss 130 lbs. so far! Woohoo!! I am so proud for her. She also realizes it is only a tool, to be used wisely during the weight loss journey. Hope everyone is doing well. All you folks that use Precision Surgery, and of course any others that would like to join in, get to posting! I'm not sure if the notifications work correctly here. So you may have to check in every so often to see who and what someone posted. Take care all, and Happy Thanksgiving ! Sugarbear

Helloooo everyone! This is Sugarbear. The person that originally started this thread. Whew! That seems like eons ago. lol I see some familiar names on here. Glad you are still visiting this thread. I had a notification someone posted and I haven't had one of those in a very long time. I have not been to see our doctors in a long time. I think I reached my "sweet spot" and just didn't feel the need to return. I really haven't lost any more weight but haven't gained any back either. Thought about coming back to visit the support group meetings. I went for a long time and enjoyed them and got some good info. But then they began to repeat themselves so I figured I had heard most of what was to be offered. I still feel like the band is a good tool to help guide you through the weight loss journey. But it is ultimately up to us to use it correctly. I think we all catch ourselves "cheating the band." Things that slide easily, high calorie foods that aren't hard to eat, yet low on nutrician. The list goes on. I too am ready to do a little turning around and re-comitting to my band. Most fall of the wagon ocasionally. So let's get going, especially with the holidays soon approaching. Good to hear from you oldie but goodies, as well as you newbies. Everybody take care!

I am nearly 3 yrs. out. I am fine. Haven't lost all the weight yet but that is my doings. We all have tool and gadgets we buy and don't use. Well....I am guilty of that sometimes with my band. It is a weightloss tool that I bought and sometimes don't use. It doesn't tell me what to eat, plus it doesn't act like a barrier when I stuff something in my mouth that shouldn't be going. Only I can do that. I wouldn't change one thing about getting my band. I would do it again tomorrow.

Hello Amy. Congratulations and welcome to bandland! I am nearly three years out from surgery and had a good experience at Wadley as well. I know you will do well on your band journey. Just follow the rules and the rest will take care of itself. Don't over-do while you are healing. You want the band and your port to seat in place. That is so much better in the long run. Fills are much easier when the port is where it is supposed to be and ect. Good luck on your journey and we will help anyway we can. my email is sharonhenley00@yahoo.com if you want to email.

Awwwww, are thread seems to be slipping. Guess I got lazy after 2 years. Keep posting we may have some newbies that need us. Take care. Anybody that wants to email instead go ahead.

Well I just tried out the chat. It was fine. First time that has happen for me.

Autumn, first..congratulations! Next, be sure you have all the things you need for post surgery at your fingertips at home. I don't know what your doctor requires in the line of post surgery items, like plenty of broths, pain meds if you should need them, (liquid). Set heavy things at counter level where you do not have to reach for, nor pick them up. It is good to pre-prepare and possibly freeze items that can be put in the freezer for the rest of your family. Splurge on some quick fix frozen things for them if you don't have time to cook and freeze. Pay bills, clean house, run errands, ect. so in case you don't want to get out much for several days, you don't have to. No pushing, pulling, or lifting. You don't want to upset your port or the band before it can heal and seat in place. Sounds complicated but it's really not. I didn't have one bit of trouble. I did do a LOT of walking and moving around to help relieve any gas build up as soon as I got home, which was within a couple of hours after surgery. Just follow instructions and you will do fine. Good Luck and please let us know how you do. My email is sharonhenley00@yahoo.com if you have any questions.

I had a 2 pound gain, but still got a teeny unfill. Hope yours goes well.Surely they can look back on your history and see more than a teeny one doesn't work on you. I go back in 4 weeks to check out if it worked or I need a hair more out. Still really tied up with taking care of my mil. I will try to get back on and post. Hope all you newbies are doing well.

Thought I would get back on here and do a little posting...but...I see I was the last one to do any posting!! hmmmm. Com'on girls we need to keep our thread alive, especially for any new people that have questions. Had to get an unfill the other day. Hope this goes well.

I never had much luck on the chat either. Find a thread you really like and you will get lots of support from there. Our group was banded in Texarkana, TX. So we have a Texarkana bandsters thread. I started it. Long time ago. We love it because we are all under the same doc, rules, ect. Sometimes we get a little slack about posting (like me). But for the most part we try to keep it active, especially for the newbies like you. Hope you are feeling well. Where did you have your surgery? There our LOTS of threads, find one you like, you will enjoy it. I will help any way I can.

Hello everyone! Hope this finds everyone in the box! Glad things are better for you Lo2us. My mil has had a setback or two and I have been spending a lot of time with her. I hope we have her back on the road to recovery. Maybe I can get back into posting. I have an appointment the 19th. I think I'm a little tight, probably need a tiny unfill. Let us all get into a strong mind-set with the holidays approaching. BOX !!!!

by the way...Chellt...how did the surgery go? I believe your date was 8-27. Let us know how you are doing.

Good morning everyone. Seems like I was getting back in the posting groove and then whammo....All heck breaks loose at my house. My mil fell and broke her hip and my son got sick too. Had them both in the hospital at the same time. He's better and we are still working on that aspect for her. She is now in rehab hospital. So getting to the computer has been far and between. Hope everyone is doing ok. I am hanging around the same weight, maybe down a pound or two. Got to get more with the program. These guest trays are killing me. haha. I will try to get back on soon. Lo2us, are you attending the meetings? I haven't had a chance.

Thanks Julie. Not sure about that ticker...not sure about the calculations. I do want to lose another 60 or so pounds but I don't know where the 127 comes from? In my dreams!? I am assuming that is a weight goal, but that isn't what I would weigh if I lost that amount. Like I said "in my dreams." haha i am doing SF twice a day right now trying to break loose this plateau I'm on. Boy it's hard! Also trying to recommit to some exercise...gotta have it!

Hippmom, go to cp user...then go to edit signature..minimize your page. Go to tickerfactory.com or whichever one you use. edit your ticker...then get both pages on your screen at once (make them small...then cut and paste your newly revised ticker in your signature box...be sure then to click on save signature. It takes a minute and the new one should pop in there. It's been so long since I have done it I had to mess with it a minute to figure it out too. My target weight didn't come out right but can't figure that out.

Hi NewJulie. i have missed seeing you on hre. Like you I haven't been on too much either. Trying to make a better effort, especially for the newbies. The conference was wonderful! Speakers were great! Mary Jo was back and full of it! Several others and they were terriffic. The resort was great too. Better than the one before and less expensive. Right on the water. I never saw so many sail boats and yachts in my life. No sign of recession there! So wished you could have been there. Good for you on the weight loss! Keep it going. I have started Slimfast pre-op diet today. To get me rolling again. Need a "jolt."

You're welcome Chellt. Find some sucessfull bandsters and you will here plenty of good stuff. Especially ones that "follow the rules" As Ms. Betty would say "stay in the box." I am a slow loser because I have trouble staying in the box. I have to re-group once and a while and and make up my mind to get back to business. As a matter of fact i am starting the pre-op diet tomorrow to give myself a jolt. Sound crazy? I think so too. I may not be as strict on every evening meal. But I will have a salad instead of a SF many evenings. I haven't lost as much as many, but I have lost and the best thing is I keep it off. You can also get on the drs. email list and they will send tidbits to update you. You can go to noscales.com to catch up on some good blogs. Hang in there.

Welcome Chell. I think I can speak for many of us about the presurgery nervous jitters. But as far as living with a diet of liquids the rest of your life that isn't true. Do your homework, talk to the dietician and Ms. Betty again if you feel the need to. The pre-op diet is not designed to get you used to a diet of liquids only. Granted...some foods are more difficult to eat than others. Some can not tolerate bread, some meats, and some pastas. Small, well chewed bites are the rules to eating almost anything. EVERYONE is different. I can eat bread, have a friend that can't. Soft doughy biscuits or rolls are harder. Chewing food very well is the name of the game and stop eating when you are no longer hungry. Of course all of us make mistakes. Our lifetime of bad eating habits..what and how we eat are something we have to really work on. The band doesn't tell you what to eat or how to eat it. We have to be responsible for that. The pre-op diet was the absolute hardest part for me. But I did make it through it. Be sure to take your vitamins. The first five days are the hardest. Your body is really having to make an adjustment to the change in calories,sugar, carbs, ect. It will level out. Not only that..your emotions are playing havoc with you too. This will also help your liver to shrink some and it gives them more room to manuever during surgery. Personally, it was a good decision for me. But only you can make this decision for you. I was a big weenie about the pre-op diet but made it. It helped me see if I could make the committment to changing my habits. I hope you have good support at home. You can also attend the support group meetings before surgery and talk with other bandsters. Hang in there.

Woohoo! For You!!! Remember the "I'll never get there times?" You are doing so good! Congrats!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I went to a lapband conference in League City last weekend. It was wonderful! Dr. Duc Vuong and his staff put it on. It was held at South Shore Harbour Resort. The speakers were outstanding. Lots of motivation. It was a great experience. I will give more info when I have a little more time. Again CONGRATS HIPPMOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Absolutely! That is just another victory. When you look at that number and think ooooooohhhh, that's so many to lose! HA! You have already lost more than that! So..YOU GO GIRL!!!!! I think you are right on track. Just stay focussed. I am even going back to Slimfast Optima in the place of at least one meal a day. I think it will help me in the long run. The "long run," is my long term goal. Getting there, are "my short term goals"...every week. I have signed up for the conference in Houston (well, about 30 miles from there). I am looking forward to it. I need a BOOST every once and a while and I think this will help. I hope someone else is considering going. I will definitely report back on it. There is another in NY in the fall but I am afraid that one is out of my reach. Although I would love to go to NY for a visit. Never been there. Take care everyone.