Kim_8

Heather - Congrats! 50 lbs is awesome! You've gotta feel great! I'm happy for you!

Hi DFW people! I'm from Keller.

Hey Steve- Welcome to LBT! Hang out for a while and read some posts - awesome place to get info. I'm in Texas, too... there's quite a few of us here! Kim

10 vote is in - how cute!

I know about those big bites! I get stuck, too - too much! Even if I take smaller bites, if I do ANYTHING besides concentrate on chewing, then I forget to chew well enough!!! Arghhhhh. Do not worry about talking to the doc - look at how much weight you've lost! You're doing great! Good luck on that fill if that's what you end up doing!

Yes, I received one. I thought I might have needed it when I went out of the country and had to go through security in the airport (metal detector)... but no probs at all.

yep Sus - that's what I was noticing, too. I couldn't tell what it actually came with. I saw the additional bands. It does look kind of cool though for those that don't have tons of extra space.

Wheetsin - You are more prepared than the average bear (at least any that I know!). It sounds like you mentally have your head around this and that's a GREAT way to start! You'll be ok... it's a time to be nervous, so don't feel crazy. I was nervous, too! Best wishes for a great surgery and a speedy recovery! Take Care, Kim

Like everyone else, I'm really sorry about your experience! But OH MY GAWD was that funny! I read and read about PB's and slimes, and my counselor explained PB as bringing back up the food you just ate. I thought, oh that would be kind of disgusting - but totally and utterly painful - no, nobody ever really said it was this horrible. Even if they did - could anyone really ever explain it in words to make you believe it (until now ??) You rock! I had the slime half of your experience. I really thought I was dying. If I feel the least little bit of an inkling that something has gone down the wrong way or gotten stuck, I quit eating and WALK, JUMP, RUN AND BURP. I NEVER want that to happen again! EPGSHFLYADV - has got to be added to the acronym list! Thanks so much for the post - I've had a great laugh for the evening! Don't despair - I can't remember the pain of mine too much now - it's kind of like childbirth - you know it sucked really, really bad, but you did it again anyway because you seem to forget just how bad! Kim

Ok - this one happened to my aunt.... My aunt used to be a pretty thin lady, but over time got to be a pretty big lady. She once went to a wedding and she and my mom went to the restroom. My mom went into a stall and heard this old lady talking to my aunt. Went something like this.... Old Lady: *looking at my aunt* "Who errrr yoooouuuu?????" Aunt: Well I'm Tom's Ex Wife. Old Lady: "Noooooooo way! What the heck happened to you???" Aunt: "Well, what do you mean?" Old Lady: "Well, you blew up!" My Mom on the Toilet: *teeth falling on the floor* Aunt: "oh - yes I guess I've gained a little weight. Happens to the best of us." Old Lady: "A little? Happened to my sister - she looks like a damn elephant!" My Mom on the Toilet: *now snorting and peeing up a storm she's laughing so hard* My mom and aunt still laugh about this to this day. Don't you wonder sometimes what the heck people are thinking when they say stuff like this? This one's mine...... This has been SEVERAL years back..... Went out with my sister in law and brother in law to 6th street in Austin. Stopped by the shot bar. Had every shot in the bar. Somehow they got me home and on the sofa to go to sleep. Now, this is all second hand - but here is what I understand happened.... Stood up - walked over to the speaker (one of the big tall old kind that sat on the floor) - dropped trousers - squatted and peed on the floor. As if this wasn't bad enough, I then looked at everyone and fell flat on my face passed out with my big bare butt sticking up in the air. I woke the next morning wondering where my pants were. Evidently it took a team of people to get me in the shower and back into my sofa bed. All I can say is oh my gosh - I have never been so embarrassed and humiliated! Haven't had a shot since! shots - $65 taxi ride home - $20 your family seeing your naked fat butt after you peed on their floor - priceless

Quote by Babs: Babs, Very well thought out post. I like your reasoning!

My pre-op diet wasn't as tough as yours. I could eat protein shakes and lean meat and veggies, but no carbs, sugar or fat. The post op diet was harder because it was like yours, all liquids. Time did go by faster than I thought it would though and now I'm back on regular foods again! The 9th isn't that far away..... you can do it! Good news is - I lost quite a bit of weight on the pre-op diet and am guessing by what you're eating that you really will! Maybe you could check with your doctor and find out if there's anything at all you could eat when you feel like you're going crazy and can't take one more shake??? Good Luck and best wishes for your surgery!

Quote GentleSpirit: DITTO!

Jamie - I noticed that when I switched to pureed food (real food though), I gained a little, then when I went to regular foods I gained a little more. Before long though I was back to losing. I thought maybe it was just an adjustment period for your body getting the shock of real food again?? Who knows?? But this did happen to me, too.

ditto - but do check with him to be sure. he's a very nice guy and happy to explain things for you.

ok - I am an ebay and online shopping addict. I almost pressed buy it now! Decided to talk to hubby first :-). Looks pretty cool though - as long as it doesn't stay under the bed it fits under.

Hi Sandy! Congrats on the band! Hang in there - it get's better! Here's to a speedy recovery for you! Kim

I'm in, too. Thanks Heather - my first challenge!

Sus - I'll take a look. Thanks. I use fitday.com like Nykee and Jessie. It's free. It did take a little getting used to, but really is pretty easy to use once you get used to it. It has a bunch of foods already in the database with all the nutritional info. If you find one that's not in there - then you can add it to your list of foods for reusing. You can also track your weight and it graphs your weight loss over time for you. It also lets you set a weight loss goal and food intake goals and tellls you what you need to do to get there. Example from my fitday.com page: Current Weight Your weight is 192 lb as of 02/25/2006. Weight Goal Your goal is to weigh 135 lb by 10/31/2006 Goal Progress You are currently 57 lb above the target weight. The deadline for your goal is 248 days (35 weeks, 3 days) away. To meet your goal you need to lose about 1.61 lb per week.

Hi Sue, I used Benavides in Richardson (Surgery Center of Richardson). It cost $15K and covered the surgery + post care and fills for a year. I liked the doctor and the Surgery Center. Good Luck!

Hi Beth, No, not a silly question at all. For me, physically, the band keeps me from eating as much. If I try to eat too much then I have pain. If I swallow without chewing good enough, I have pain. I currently have a 1cc fill and find that in the mornings I have a hard time with some solid foods. In the evenings I don't have as much restriction and can eat more than I really am supposed to. Although just tonight, I was noticing that even though I can eat more than I'm supposed to, I eat NOWHERE near the amount that I used to.... too uncomfortable. I do know that I can "eat around the band" by eating foods that are soft (like pudding) or chocolate that dissolves and doesn't leave bulk in my stomach. I can eat alot if this is all I eat. I guess it just goes right through and doesn't fill up your new stomach. So, I've started making sure that I've eaten a "solid" meal and start with Protein and then if I want a little pudding or chocolate, I'm still really full and can't eat alot - so a little goes a long way. This does take discipline for me though. Exercise I don't know about because I really haven't been doing much of it yet. I keep promising myself I will, but haven't. I think as I start to lose more weight it will be more of a motivator for me. I know if I can just start, that I'll probably want to keep doing it. Hope all goes well for you! Take Care. Kim

Quote by JessieBear: Yes, I agree with Jessie - the glycerine suppositories worked wonders for me when I had nausea and thought I was going to throw up. I had the same pain you are having and could hardly eat anything. It did go away for me. Took a little while though. You just had a big operation and you're bound to feel it for a little while. Hang in there - it does get better! I did gas-x for the shoulder pain. Didn't help tons. I walked as much as I could and that did seem to help a little. After 3-4 weeks, the shoulder pain was gone. Best wishes Sunta! Take it easy. Congrats on your new band!

Just WOW! Congrats!

I was $15K with Benavides at the surgery center of Richardson. I think the web site is www.lapbandsolutions.com. That includes 1 year free follow up and fills at no cost for a year. I really liked him and all of the staff at the Surgery Center of Richardson. He's got a very good record and has done over 1000 of these surgeries. Good luck in your search!

Hi Ms Vickie! Wow - how nice for you that all of your insurance stuff moved along so quickly! Congrats on your upcoming surgery. We'll look forward to talking with you! Good luck and keep us posted on how you're doing! Kim