Queen of Hearts
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Everything posted by Queen of Hearts
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How do you know your lap band slipped?
Queen of Hearts replied to June May's topic in Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
Hi there! I have had to have my band removed..not for slipping but I wanted to let you know how mine was found to have slipped. I was having reflux so bad I requested my esophagus be checked. That doctor saw my band had a concentric slip and called my lapband doc. My lapband doc ordered an upper GI where the slippage was confirmed. I was then watched for almost a year. I was getting ready to have a tummy tuck and wanted to have my band placed back before that tummy tuck so I wouldn't end up with more cutting after getting tightened up..that's when my doc found my liver had adhered to the band and the stoma. I am now waiting for another surgeon to do a VSG..I miss my band! I loved my band and it was good for me! My case is very rare..but what I would give to get my band back!! Continue on your journey and I wish the best of luck to you!! The band was a life saver for me!! -
From the album: Band journey
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Dr. Tim Eldridge - Introductions
Queen of Hearts replied to ThinknHealthy's topic in Weight Loss Surgeons & Hospitals
My name is Teri. Dr. E did my lapband in February 08. I have lost pretty consistently and have I believe 6.0 cc in my band. I am one of his research patients for the allergan band and I love it! My health is what drove me to get a lapband primarily. I had a liver that was full of fatty deposits and even though I had started a pretty good down hill slide on a diet it just wasn't going fast enough for my liver to regenerate..thus the decision to get the lap band. His associate Dr. Jackson had removed my gall bladder so I had already met Dr. Eldridge before lapband became a word in my vocabulary..he is a terrific doctor! -
Before and during the journey to a new me!
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From the album: Band journey
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My baby boys graduation from OU this May!
Queen of Hearts posted a gallery image in Member Photo Gallery
From the album: Band journey
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Hey Cathy!
Sorry it took so long to write back..I'm down 80 pounds. I'm wearing a 12/14 now and have 28 left to go. As of late I've had reflux so bad and had the doc loosen me up a bit and it's better but it's still there. Taking nexium 2x a day and it helps a bit but nights are horrible! I have been on a plateau since Dec..went to get a fill and was so tight I lost 8 pounds in 11 days...so went in and asked if he could take half of what he put in..course that would have been 1/4 cc and he said he couldn't but would try. I go back in a couple of weeks but he's going to be disappointed since I'm just riding out the same weight!! HA! Oh well...I feel better and can't complain too much!! How are you..your weight loss is great!! I started changing my sizes about 3/4 months out..don't get disappointed if it doesn't show too soon..everyone is different!! It's coming off that's the main thing!! Catch you later!!
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I'm down 77 pounds and have 23 to go but the lapband doc said to not get discouraged because since it's not as much it will take longer to shed...so you don't worry about gaining a bit..it will all come off in the end..and guess what..I (a 52 yr old woman) bought a WII fit!! That little baby can kick some serious booty if you really work it like you should..man I had muscles let me know they are alive and well and I get to laughing at myself sometimes because I'll catch myself cursing that dang little cartoon character I'm following when running and the freaky yoga lady that keeps telling me how great my posture is..but if she only knew I was holding on to a dresser to keep from falling on my back side!! HA! So life is good now and you keep up the good work..you look absolutely beautiful!!!
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Man..everytime I get on here and see your beautiful face I am inspired!! I have been on a L O N G plateau!! I had my band so tight I was pbing everything..even liquid..loosened it up and gained 1 pound after 6 weeks which really equates gaining about 7-13 pounds!!! He went in and put half as much back in me and I went to my regular doctor and she said I could stop now..HA! I am on nexium for the reflux I still get and since I suffer from that so bad I am also on ambienCR to help me sleep..but when I get that reflux...any bile or food that hasn't processed starts coming back up and I tell you honestly..you don't want to wake up puking all over yourself like I had been doing!! Now I am adjusting better but I'm still losing quite a bit of hair..I started taking protein supplements and biotin to help alleviate that but not much success there.
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Hey Becky! Right now as far as I know there is a group somewhere here but I'd have to check with one of the other ladies that came from Vinita to get her surgery. I think she had it done by Dr. Gorneke (sp??). Her insurance required her to attend a support group! Let me check with her and she where she went. I also have a friend that works at the base that had Dr. Eldridge as well. She was very disgrundled in the beginning but is doing better now...course I didn't think she needed a band because she wasn't that big but her diabetes was her real problem so it is working well for her. She and I kind of just email each other at work to keep our spirits up. We don't get to see each other too often but when we do we are always delighted to see how well we have done without even realizing it!! You are welcome to contact me..send me a private message and I'll send you my email address. Sounds like you are doing great and I wish you well on this journey!! Keep up the good work and let me know how you're doing! Who knows..maybe we can meet one day!!
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Wow...you are doing great!!! I'm down just 77 and 33 left to go!! It's getting a bit harder now since I can't or rather refuse to be tightened up anymore..too many issues going on here to get any tighter!! You are amazing!! Good to hear from you..keep it up!!!
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Hi Melly!!
Sorry it took so long to get back with you!! Haven't been in this forum in way tooo long!! Yes I love Dr. Eldridge! He does tend to give a lot more in his fills than I have seen others get in these posts but that's ok.. I have lost 77 pounds since Feb..the last 33 are going to be the toughest because you don't have AS MUCH to lose and your body doesn't need as many calories to keep it going and unfortunately it seems the good stuff takes longer to get through the band than the bad stuff!! HA! But I'm determined!! I live in Midwest City..I go to Shawnee once in a while..visit CATOS!! HA! Would love to meet you sometime..let me know!!
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Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Lady!! I've been off this site for so long I feel like a newbie!! HA! How are you doing?? You look great! I'm down 77 pounds and now I have reflux and such tight restriction that I eat by the clock..doc said I've gone way above his expectations and I'm in a 16 jean and xl shirt (some l depends on cut). I have had a few health issues from the band and it has depressed me enough to just FIA!! But I haven't given up!! Just wanted to touch base with you!! Have a good day my dear!! I'll get back in here again and start up once I finish going through my mail!!! Love ya kiddo!
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All February 2008 Bandsters Please Read This Thread!
Queen of Hearts replied to Gibson's topic in LAP-BAND Surgery Forums
:biggrin: Hey Olgi330! Hon..don't worry..I think we've all been there..I was there about 2 months ago and thought that scale would never move..but once it did it JUMPED!:tt1: I was so surprised! Right now I'm getting ready to go in and have some TAKEN OUT!! I'm really restricted and have been having really bad heart burn..but to feel better and lose slower it's worth it to me! I too have seen the inches go faster than the scale..but if you work out and with the band..don't be surprised if you are turning the fat into muscle and muscle does weigh more..just a thought! Everyone will be different..just don't let it get you down!! You're really doing great!!:thumbup: -
Hey ThinknHealthy ! I agree. The band is the tool but to have someone at the office that could help guide us to some of our other questions it would be so very helpful! Right now I just use the internet and this forum to kind of keep me in check!! I wish the best on your journey. I'm a few pounds under my half way point and am looking forward to the FINAL day!! It's not easy but no pain no gain I guess! HA! I know without the band I would never have come this far for sure!!:smile2:
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China Good to hear from you Tapshoes!!
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Oh..I thought when you got that first one hundred off that was onderland??!! I'm such a goof ball!! HA! Doesn't matter GF!! You are totally amazing!! I am so proud of you!! **hugs**
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HELP!! Need a local support group ASAP!
Queen of Hearts replied to Mamacj's topic in LAP-BAND Surgery Forums
Wow!! I was borderline diabetic too! It's completely under control now as well..about your reflux..if you get anxious does it flare up?? Nerves might be getting to you?? I know waiting for all the requirements to be met made me so stressed I had headaches and stomach aches!! :cool2: Well I had to wait with my family doctor too but when she found out that my liver doctor was going to write a letter then she jumped on the band wagon and then the heart doctor but come to find out I didn't need all of those! Just getting the lapband doctor to do his report and have all my morbidity problems and my excessive weight and having proof of a supervised diet plan within the last five years..and failing of course..set me up! This is the first year my insurance covered the lap band. They would the by pass but my liver doc and family doc said they wouldn't recommend it because of so many problems that could be incurred..so my liver doc said..now a lap band I'll go for since it's reversible if things don't go well! So 2 years later I finally got my band! I just wish they had this available through my insurance years ago!! It sure would have saved them so much in prescriptions and doctor visits!! But better late than never!!:biggrin2:Please keep me posted as you go along and get things done and if you need anything I'll try to help you as much as I can! One thing I suggest..just because..if there is something that you really love to eat..get it and eat it!! I had steak for 2 whole weeks before my preop diet! HA! If I knew that those great rolls wouldn't go through my band I would have made myself sick eating those too because you are getting ready for a real strict amount and type of food you can eat! I can eat just about anything but chicken that's fried..forget it, if it has dry meat I gag!! I eat steak but my hubby cuts it really tiny because I'm real bad about not chewing as throughly as I should!:w00t: I eat fish, beef, pork (which seems to be the easiest for me to digest) and my veggies are limited because some of them are pretty stringy and you will fill up pretty quick with fiber!! I always try to eat my protein (meats/cheese/eggs etc) first..then proceed with what ever is on my diet! One mistake a friend of my daughters made was assuming the band was a cure all..it's not..it's a tool to HELP you but you have to follow the diet and be ready to exercise..all I do is walk and it does help!! You can still cheat but that's when your will power has to be overcome!! In the lapbandtalk forum there are a bunch of us that have plead guilty of cheating once in a while and it's really strange that the good stuff will make you puke but the bad stuff just goes right through! HA! But we are all trying to keep from cheating now! If it goes down that easy then that tells me it can be stored as fat!! I'm so tight right now I should be losing weight but like I said I haven't been exercising so I know it works because I'm eating a lot less but the scales are moving soooo slowly!! Anyway..just wanted to let you know some of the things I can look back on and wish I would have done but didn't..and now what I can do but try not to! I'm only half way through but my girlfriends at work think I've lost enough..as well as my hubby, but if I'm going to pay for plastic surgery I want to at least reach my goal first!! So I will plod along and maybe this time next year I can start my second phase of becoming a new me!! Best wishes for you!! -
My bloggie for the Month of July 2008:
Queen of Hearts commented on LilMissDiva Irene's blog entry in Welcome to LilMiss's Blog! Enjoy your stay!
Irene! I am so proud of you! You are doing just wonderful! I finally broke my plateau also, but it's my exercising that I really think will help me move the scale a bit quicker!! I need to spend more time indoors doing my routines, but I like being outdoors so much more! I've decided to start being more rigorous to ensure I can see the initial loss continue on this journey we are taking!! By the way sister..I am also enjoying the shopping trips!! HA! I won't tell you how much I spent..we haven't even told the DH that YET!! HA HA! Love it!! Everyday I live life I love it more!! We are on the right road!! Love you kiddo!! -
Hello fellow OKIES!! I just now came to this thread and was glad to see more of us here than I first thought! I am Teri, from Midwest City. I was banded 2/8/08 by Dr. Tim Eldridge! I love my band and am happy to see so many of you doing really great with your bands!! What an inspiration!!:w00t:
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HELP!! Need a local support group ASAP!
Queen of Hearts replied to Mamacj's topic in LAP-BAND Surgery Forums
CJ! Sounds like a plan..I didn't have to go to support groups. I had so many co morbidity problems I didn't even have to go to the shrink!:w00t: But within 2 months my health improved so much that I was astounded! My liver doctor was thrilled, my heart doctor was excited for me and my family doctor told me that I was one of the patients that this really worked well for and rather quickly! I told her if she had any patients that had weight problems like I did then she was welcome to tell them everything she had to do to try and help me! I'm halfway to my goal but it seems that this last half is going to take a bit longer than the first half! I just need to exercise more but you know how hot it's been and I hate to walk when we have so much heat!! My insurance is blue cross blue shield federal so that may be part of why I didn't need the support group validation??!! I wish you well on your journey! -
Hey CJ..I had my surgery in Feb of this year. I initially started with Dr. Gorniche but changed due to my family doctor sending me to Dr. Eldridge and he is just terrific. I haven't had any problems with my surgery at all. It was easier than my gall bladder surgery actually! I have had 4 fills and they are simple and don't hurt at all..except my third fill was a bit too much and bout killed me! It was so tight I had a hard time getting anything down, but just went back and had 1/2 of the fill removed until my last fill and he put what he took out in..so the only really bad thing is when I wouldn't chew enough or if I ate too fast then I'd usually have it come back up..so whatever you learn..learn to chew your food at least 30 times a bite and take your time eating..then you shouldn't have not one problem!!:w00t: Now for your fills..I know your doctor here in OKC should give you a list of fill doctors there in Tulsa, or you may even check with some of the doctors these ladies on this forum from Tulsa use..?? You will not regret getting the band but it is just a tool and once you learn how to use it it works beautifully! I love my band! Good luck on your journey to the new YOU!!:eek:
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HELP!! Need a local support group ASAP!
Queen of Hearts replied to Mamacj's topic in LAP-BAND Surgery Forums
Hi mamacj~I was just wondering..exactly what kind of support group is it that you have to attend? Is it suppose to be like the seminars the doctors hold? When I was checking into getting the lap band I was told to go and sign in and watch the ME EMMI web site..I wonder if that will fulfill your obligation for support?? It logs you in and you can print your completion out..you might ask and see if that works?? I don't attend a support group but I did go to my docs seminar. Let me know what you find out! -
I'm unhappy. Lost only 20lbs since feb. surgery.
Queen of Hearts replied to Gone Baby Gone's topic in LAP-BAND Surgery Forums
Hey Jlobyxmas and Tara! First YES Tara..I'd love to be your long distance internet exercise buddy and I promise to be totally honest with you!! We need this kind of interaction to where we can be held accountable to someone besides all those around us..cuz I'm telling you..my friends here are saying..whoa you've lost enough..but in reality..I'm thinking..gosh I'm glad they don't know what that scale REALLY is saying! :tongue: I'm only half way to my mark and the loss has s l o w e d down on the scale considerably and I know it's because of my exercising not being aggressive as it should be! Second..Jlo..you are so right on the band being a tool..not the cure..an aid for us to use!! Like you said earlier..it's strange how the bad things just go through and after heaving a couple of times you can become a little shy of eating what's good simply because you KNOW that bad stuff will just go on through without any..or mostly without resistance and bad after effects except for the most important..it's not what we need to fill our little tummys with to get the nutrients we need!! Eventually we will over induldge and the weight is going to stay right where it's at!! I'm guilty of that myself!! But I think all of us have had moments of relapse and I think that wager you have with your doc is great!! I know you can do it! I do something similar to that with my doc and when it's made like a competition it doesn't seem to make me feel like I'm working at it..but enjoying the stimulus of being able to get on that scale and say YEAH! I did it!!:thumbup: So you keep that great attitude up and show that doc you are reconfiguring your thought processes on what your band is to you and what it can do for you!! You'll make it!!:wink_smile: -
I'm unhappy. Lost only 20lbs since feb. surgery.
Queen of Hearts replied to Gone Baby Gone's topic in LAP-BAND Surgery Forums
Hi! Allergan is just a name brand of one of the bands available to lap band doctors to use. I have an Allergan AP12 band. It's the newest one they had out at the time I had my surgery 8 Feb 08..in fact I am a research participant. I have had 4 fills now..the third had to have half of it removed because it was tooooo tight and this last fill put the 1/2 cc in that he had previously removed and it took me 10 days to adjust to it. Just the past 2 days I've felt like I can eat about 1/4 cup of food without heaving it back up!! I don't really know much more about the other bands but I have a head full of this band simply because it's in my body!!:wink2: I currently have 6.7 cc in this band and it's plenty tight..I just need to exercise more I think!!
