marineliebe

I know that there was a post about this before...I remember seeing the title; but I can't find it. So, my question is, what is the difference between the lap band and the realize band? And how did people choose which one to get? :thumbup: I'ed love to hear what everyone thinks. Thanks!

this might be a stupid NSV but...I climed though a window the other day! It was awesome to not have my weight hold me back...I was able to climb thought my friends window and half myself inside! lol

I think that in the end its your life and YOU know whats best for you...I think many of us (myself included) have also gained and lost the same 100 pounds over and over...its one of the reasons we all choose the band! :thumbup: My family was not for it either, but now that I'm 3 months out, they really don't talk about it much...its not really the topic of conversation anymore. Yes, my success is recognized, but the fact that I got the band isn't really a big deal anymore. I'm sure once your family sees how you are doing, they will get over it. I mean, its pretty silly for your mom to disown you for trying to get healthy. Its not her choice. Good luck to you! :wink2:

so its been a while since i've posted...i've been really busy with work! but i'm down 31lbs so far...I'm pretty happy with my progress so far...I know that I need to start working out more!

Hey all, I'm a 22 year old female from Washington state just starting off on this wonderful and scary adventure. I have gone to my seminar and have all three of my surgeons consult, nurse consult and psych consult coming up here very soon. I will be seeing Dr. Montgomery at the Northwest Weight Loss Surgery. I have gotten the opportunity to chat with him for a while, and he really seems to know his stuff. Has anyone else gone here, and could they share their experience with me? Although I'm fairly young, I have already begun to experience some health related weight problems that have begun to scare me. The most common regret I have heard from talking with other patents that have gotten the surgery is that they regret that they did not do it sooner. It took me a while to gain the support of my parents (although I don't live with them I still would like to have their support in this) and my dad has really come around and believes that this is the best thing for me. He came with me to the seminar as well. Any tips and thoughts from anyone would be welcome! I am supposed to get my surgery by the end of April or beginning of May. Thanks!

I think a tattoo is an awesome way to reward yourself if you have always wanted to get one! (FYI tho they become addicting!) I just got another one 3 weeks ago when i was in las vegas behind my ear. brings the count up to 6..ahh my dad was not happy :wub: allison would love to see a pic of urs somtime as well!

i would say the minimum would be if you got banded on a thurs and went back to class on a tesday or even wednesday. i took a week off and was glad i did. i was banded on a tuesday and the first day i felt ok was that saterday. the fist day i left the house was sunday. some ppl say they have no gas pains and that they are ok to go back to work after a few days...but i would be worried about walking with a laptop, but in the end you have to judge how you normally handle being "sick like". hope this helps!

heres mine! myspace.com/marineliebe if you want to add me send me a note saying your from LBT and i'll add you!

The surgery center I had my band done at works on ppl under 18. Down side is that I'm in Washington State...but if you dad didn't feel comfortable about traveling to Mexico, he might feel better about cross country. I was banded at Northwest Weight Loss Surgery in Everett WA. You should google them and check out their website. Good Luck!

age:22 location: bellingham wa marital status: single sex: female :biggrin: weight: started at 265, i'm 249 right now goals desired: i'ed like to be 150, and/or size 8 I think this is a great idea! I would love someone to be able to have some guidence from an expearenced bandster! Its very motivating to talk to someone who has been there, and done it! I'm a 22 year old cosmetolgist, very motivated and just starting out on my journey!

Hey All, It REALLy helped me out to hear everyone elses stories about their banding expearence, so I thought I would share mine as well in hopes it will help others who are going later this month! I got up around 6am today and left the house at 6:30am, I had packed a bag the night before with all my meds, a blanket, an extra shirt, some Water and a pillow. I arrived at the surgery clinic (I was banded at North West Weight Loss Surgery) about 8:20 (I was a little early). I sat next to a nice man in the waiting room and chatted with him for a bit, he had been banded about 13 months ago and had lost 100lbs. His wife was being banded while he was waiting. After he left to be with his wife when she was out of surgery, I was given some papers to sign and read over. Then I was taken back into the pre-op room where I changed into a gown, robe and socks. They gave me a nice bag to put my extra clothes in and a thing of chap stick. Then I came back out and they had me sit in this sort of recliner chair thing and gave me a blanket. Then they gave me a shot in my thigh to prevent blood clots, I think that was the worst part of the whole procedure, I don't like needles and the shot stung for about 5 min after I got it. After that I had to wait a little while as the surgery before me was running a little behind. Then my surgen came out and chatted with me and my dad for a bit and asked if we had any questions. After that I had my IV put in, which actually hurt less than the shot because he put some numbing medication on my hand before. After the IV was in, they got me up and I walked into the OR. I layed down on the table and they put some meds in my IV and put an oxygen mask on me, I remember looking at the nurse and her telling me I was going to be fine and thats the last thing I remembered. I woke up as they were rolling me back into a recovery room, I was pretty groggy but came out of it well. (I started singing Gwen Stefani) They brought my dad to me and gave me some water to start sipping on. They would come and check my vitals every 15min to 1/2 hour or so. They asked how my pain was and I decided I could use a pain shot, so they gave me some, I think it was called dafiral or somehing? It started with a D at any rate. I stayed i bed for about 2 and 1/2 hours, then they had me get up and walk about and I went to the bathroom. I was then lead to the "step down room" where I was in another recliner type chair. I sat there for about another 1/2 hour and was given my discharge instructions. Then I changed into my comfy clothes and my dad brought the car around. The nurse helped me out and I pretty much feel asleep the second I got into the car. So I don't really remember the car ride home. Once I got home I had some chicken broth and Soup and took a nap. Then one of my girlfriends came to see me and we watched a movie togther. I would get up about once an hour and do a few laps up and down the hall, I found it really helped with getting the gas out...or at least trying to get it out. My friend left, and I started watching the Heros DVDs and another girlfriend came over and watched a few episodes with me. My dad went out to get me some straws and juce and my friend left (around 10pm) I had some more soup and some juice. (My sweet dad also brought me back a giant princess balloon and a stuffed animal to make me feel better). I found its a lot easier to drink water/juice with a straw. As the night has gone on, I've been getting more sore, mostly on my port, I think this is because the numbing medicine they gave me in my tummy is wearing off. All in all, I feel pretty good, a little uncomfortable and sore, my best advice right now is to keep up on the pain meds BEFORE you feel like you need them, if you take them every 2-3 hours you won't really feel the pain, at least i'm not. So thats pretty much my story, I'm not looking forward to tomorrow, I've heard the second day is the worst!! Good luck to all of you upcomming bandsters! Marine

msjessy I'm soooo glad things worked out b/t you and your friend! looks like now you guys can support eachother though this! i wish i had someone close to talk to!

i am SOO down for a giant beach party! and yes...i totally agree with the bed/sheets/big hair idea!

I had a cocktail last sunday with some girlfriends before i went to see sex and the city, i didn't have any problems with it, but i do think it did slow my weight loss down a lot. i would just keep that in mind.

I put on my work pants the other day and looked in the mirror and said to myself "i look like crap! why?" and i realized it was because my pants were too big! I could pull out the hip part like 5" and my pants were super baggy and hanging in the croch. So i pulled out a smaller pair of work pants that i havn't been able to wear for a while and they didn't just fit, they were even a little big! I put them on and looked in the mirror and I felt that I acutally looked cute!! My other NSV is that i've been trying on some old dresses cus I'm going to vegas in a few weeks, and I found 5 that fit now and look hot! woo hoo!

ok i thought about it some more...and what I really really really want to do once i'm at goal is a photo shoot! i think it would be so much fun once i have my confidence back and once i'm happy with my body to do a fun photo shoot!! then i'll always have those pics to remind me of my hard work too!