LindaGail

I'm from Kensington, I had mine done by Dr. Fielding at NYU in August, so far I've lost 68 pounds, some lose alot faster but I'm happy with my progress, slow but steady. I'm so happy with my band as I know you will be. LindaGail

Cher, I send you a payment for $87.50. I asked you for a refund via email. Which i have not received as yet. I know tickets are non-refundable, although I havent received a ticket because the event was canceled. My hard earned money is not yours to keep. I just sent you another email requesting a return of my $87.50, your email address seems to be no longer active. Please respond. Lindagail

Cher, I would love to attend the New York conference for Saturday only. Can pay at the conference? What is the cost for Saturday only?

I would be interested in attending. I would prefer NYC but if more people will come if it's in NJ it would be fine as well. LindaGail

I was banded in August with the Realize band and am very happy, as HeatherO stated I would probably be just as happy with the other brand. Dr. Feilding is my surgeon at NYU Medical Center in NYC, he has done over 2.000 band surgerys and said they are equal, one is not better than the other. Also, Dr, Feilding is banded himself. Which ever choice you make will be the right one. Good Luck, LindaGail

Hi Sim78, From what I understand, if you don't already have your insurance approval you will wait 4 weeks after the consult, it takes about 4 weeks to get everything cleared with insurance. Good luck, try not to stress. Take Care, LindaGail

Thank you Chickie. I was banded on August 4th, havent had any fills yet, my first fill appointment is Sept. 10 as of now barely have any restriction. I will try to be as succesful as you, as are really an inspiration, I still need to work on the exercise. LindaGail

I really have to work on that moving more. Thank, Lindagail

Wow, you are doing great, I would be thrilled if I could do as well as you the first year, any tips for us newbees.

Hi Gigi, I started soft food thursday and the scale went up a .4 and I didn't over eat or eat anything i shouldn't. I think that's normal when starting food, at least i hope so. I haven't really been exercising either, I'm going to try and walk as soon as I get home from work. Keep in touch, let me know when you hit the 299, that's a big one, I've been there. Take Care, LindaGail

Laura, if you mean Carnation Instant Breakfast they come in strawberry and vanilla as well as

Ohjuly, you were just banded three days ago. I didn't have the same issues you are having but did have others. i was banded on Mondy August 4, came home from the hopital on tuesday, Wednesday was painful, Thursday I felt alot better, this Monday 1 week after surgery I felt great. So, please give yoursellf a little time and I'm sure you will be back to your old self. From what you have described you seem to be on track with most everyone. Take Care, LindaGail

Hi Gigi, Glad you are doing so well. It seems you and I are pretty close in weight. the day I came home I weighed in at 299, as of this morning I was 291. I am a very slow loser so I am thrilled, although when i start solid food I will be very happy with 1 or 2 pds a week. Yesterday was my first day on soft foods. I hope I don't forget how to chew. Which hospital were you banded? i was banded in NYU. Take Care, Linda

Angie, when I was on protein shakes prior to my surgery on August 4th I put it in a blender with 4 ice cubes and put the blender on puree for 30 seconds and it made it like a thick malted. It helped me get thru. Take Care, LindaGail

I also want to wish you both luck. I was banded Monday on August 4 and feel pretty good. I lost 4 lbs since Tuesday when I came home. Try not to be scared Sam, the worst part is the anticipation. Let us know when you get home. Take Care, LindaGail

Paula, When I was on the 2 weeks of protein drinks prior to my surgery it helped to put the protein drink in a blender with 4 ice cubes and puree for 30 seconds it makes a nice foamy shake that will fill you up. Hope it helps. LindaGail

Hi Gigi, How are you doing? Hope all went well.

Chickie, thank you so much for your response, I checked out your blog, you look great and certainly must know of what you speak. I hope you don't mind if I ask you a few questios, when you were unfilled about six months after you reached goal, did you gain weight? I was just banded on Monday August 4 . Reading the forums i noticed a few people who have reach goal with just one or two fills i was wondering if this is something you made up your mind to try before banding or after fills realized it wasn't the way to go for yourself. These are a few of the questions i was wondering about before being banded and after reading your post thought i could get some answers. Thank You. LindaGail

I was banded on Monday in New York. I don't know much about Mexico but have read wonderful things about Dr Ortiz on every forum I've been on, I'm sure your in excellent hands, everyone who has been banded by him raves about him and the care they were given. Take Care, Lindagail

I guess everyones experience is a little different. When I woke up while being wheeled out of surgery I felt wide awake and stayed that way. I didn't feel pain right away. I first felt the pain when I started to get out of bed to walk with the nurse. Maybe my body was numb and didn't realize it. I needed pain medication twice while in the room. I didn't get a tray with broth and tea until the next morning. they gave me water and a bottle of propel water. I was also by myself and they brought my bag with my stuff pretty soon. As i said everyones experience is a bit different. Take care, LindaGail

Hi All, I was banded Monday August 4th. All went well, apparently I had a hernia, Dr feilding said about 50% of his patients have hernias and 65% have no signs such as myself. I was instructed to report to the hospital at 10:00am by mistake, my surgery wasn't scheduled until 2:30pm the staff was so kind, they felt badly that I had to wait so long that they put me in a private waiting room and brought in videos to watch, different people came in to sign things, jjust before my sugery time the anesthesiologist came in to sign more papers and to explain exactly what he will be doing and to anwer any questions, he was very warm and kind, he was there smiling when they walked me into the operating room. There were alot of people scurying around the operating room and as they were opening the back of the hospital gown the anesthesiologist said not to worry we will not have you exposed. The last thing i remember before going out is Dr Feilding smiling at me. I woke up as I was being wheeled into recovery and was very alert. I was wide awake the entire time in recovery. the nurse in recovery was very attentive. It was 5:30pm by the time I was in a room. Once in the room they put the IV in asked if I needed pain medication, they gave me ice chips, shortly after I arrived the nurse asked if I wanted to walk, I did she walked around once with me. The night nurse gave me a heparin shot shortly after 8pm and another one early Tuesday morning. You can put on your own night cloths on if you want to but they check your wound so they need easy access to your tummy. In the evening i walked around the hall a few times. Tuesday morning at 8:00am they anounced thru a intercom that anyone who has Drs. Feilding or Ren to go to the solarium, we than had a meeting with the Nutritionist and Nurse to give advise and answer any questions the meeting lasted about an hour. we than waited until the release papers were signed. I left about 9:15am. Even though they say check out time is 10am you should be ready to leave at 9am. Today is two days after my surgery and feel much better, I feel achy when Iget up from a sitting position or from lying down. I have no probem drinking. I cut up my blood preasure pills and they went down without any problems. Let me know if I answered your questions. Take Care, LindaGail

Hi All, I was banded Monday August 4th. Everything went well, seems i had a hernia, the doctor said about 50% of his patients have one and almost half dont have signs of a hernia, such as myself. I slept ok although I slept on my back all night and had my head proped up with a pillow, and woke up with a stiff neck . The pain from the wound area has gotten better each day. It only bothers me when getting up from a sitting or lying down. I not sure if the pain is from the wounds or from the hernia repair or both. I don't have any problems drinking liquids. They instucted us for the first ten day to drink liquids no thicker milk consistency. I hope this helps for those not banded yet, let me know if you have any questions Take care, LindaGail

I'm getting banded tomorow August 4th and your post really helps. I hope I can do as well as you. Thank You. LindaGail

I'm glad your doing so well, not bad considering your surgery was this Monday. Even though you can't eat too much it's supposed to be very important to get protein in, maybe if you add unflavored protein powder into the soup. I bought an assortment of broths and soups today. If some are too thick I'll water down. I bought a case of slimfast and found I couldn't stand it. I've been using the Carnation Instant Breakfast powder add 8 oz. skim milk (13 grams protein, add a scoop of Unjury Protein Powder(20 grams protein) I put it all in a blender with four ice cubes. After surgery on Monday I'll cancel the ice cubes as it may be too thick. For vitamins I bought Centrum chewables, I haven't tried them yet but if they don't work Centrum also has a liquid vitamin.

Wow, you really did great after sugery. that's wonderful. I also questioned staying over night if I'm an outpatient. I called my insurance company to verify that, they said it was correct, that if I stay longer I have two days to call them and get an approval number. Since I live alone I think I'm more comfortable staying over just in case. I'm going grocery shopping tomorow after work aside from soup and V8 I don't know what else to get. I guess I can start blending fruit in my protien drinks. If anyone has suggestions for me please let me know. I already have chewable vitamins and gas-x.