Gwendolyn

Glad you liked them DeAnn...Happy backyarding

My lovely gifts arrived on Wednesday - I'm a couple of days behind... I loved the gifts Jorjet- thanks so much! :whoo: My gift is on its way out this weekend, so it should reach my secret sam soon :eek: I received: A pink USA t-shirt A wooden welcome sign in patriotic colors An America keychain Yummy smelling body care set Two America handtowels

Way to go on your first 40 lbs! Go lift a 40 lbs bag of dirt at your favorite home store - 40 pounds is a LOT of weight to not be carrying around. You have every right to be dang proud of your progress P.S. You look great - you can really see the difference

Simply amazing! Way to go! :clap2:

Just jumping in with an update on my stats Fills: March 30th (1st fill) +3.0, 3.0cc total April 20th (2nd fill) +3.0cc, 4.0cc total (Huh? Where'd my 2.0cc saline go??) Current weight: 220.5lbs - Woot! You guys are awesome! Its so inspiring to see everyone's successes! :clap2:

Hi Carla- I'm not *quite* in the same boat, but some of the things I've experienced may be of help to you, so I thought I'd share... I was banded in July of 2005. 4-5 days post-op we believe I slipped, and we did not find the slip until the 8th day post-op. By that time a portion of the stomach had been pinched off and necrosed. I had emergency surgery that afternoon, the band was removed, the necrosed tissue was removed and an NG tube was inserted to allow the repaired portion of my stomach to heal. After 5 months, I went back to the surgeon to discuss options. He had *some* concern that I may have scar tissue around the stomach as a result of the trauma 5 months previous, but was 99% sure he could place the band again and be successful. 7 months after the original surgery, I was back to be re-banded. The surgeon said there was some degree of scarring, but it was minimal enough that he could work around it and place the band in the same position as before. He did say he chose to use the larger VG band specifically because of the scarring. I am now just over 10 weeks out and have had nothing but smooth sailing! I'm on a sucky plateau right now, but I couldn't be happier with my decision to be re-banded Gwen

I'd like to join! Just out of curiosity, what kinds of gifts do you usually send?

:faint:You Rock! FANTASTIC pictures :Banane56:

Boca burgers are YUMMY! So are: Morningstar Corn Dogs Quorn Cutlets Veggie Bacon Oh how I love veggie meats

I think all of us who have fabulous men in our lives should count our blessings! Of course, I think mine is the best.... You are ALL beautiful brides by the way! :confused: My pics are from my wedding last fall in a Japanese Garden.

What an interesting thread... For me, my (now) hubby FINALLY proposed after 5 years and I was getting married in 18 months. I went hardcore on a diet for 9 months and lost a whopping 10 pounds. The best part? I went in for an annual checkup and found out those 10 pounds had gotten me to...exactly the same weight I was at the previous year's checkup. Shortly after that I went out for lunch and realized my portions were double those of my dining companions - and I was hungry again an hour later. Then I read an excerpt of a study which said 95% of obese people will either not lose weight by dieting or will regain the weight within 3 years (I think it was 3 years....). My feet and knees hurt, my asthma was getting worse, and although I didn't have major comorbidities at the time, I knew they were going to happen in the next decade if I didn't DO something. It may have taken 3 surgeries to get me here, but I'm BANDED and couldn't be happier...

Not sure if it will be helpful for you, but when I am craving salt like all get out, I either load up my food with the Mrs. Dash stuff OR I have a serving of roasted, salted soy nuts. Soy Nuts have lots of protein and I find them quite yummy Edit: I noticed after I posted you might be on mushies right now - in that case soy nut butter would be a better alternative. Also, I find I crave salt when I am not drinking enough water....

I'm 3 weeks post-op and am having the same challenge with mushies - thank you so much for posting this! I thought I was crazy when I told the nurse how hungry I am and she basically said, "tough it out." Nice to know its not just me :eek:

Weight down 11 pounds post=op to 233. Go me!

Date Banded: First time 7/27/05 Second Time 2/13/06 Country: USA Doctor: Wetherille (both times) Erodoed: N If Eroded Date Removed: Removed due to slip and necrosis of pinched stomach tissue. 8/3/05

Hi Jen- I'm so sorry to hear you are having trouble. I did want tell you that you should get this checked out as it can be life threatening if left too long. My story: I started swelling 2 days after surgery. I started vomiting and the band slipped on day 4 after surgery. They did not do the floro test for another 3 days - by that time the band had pinched off a portion of my stomach and caused it to necrose (die). I had emergency surgery and spent 4 days in ICU with a systemic infection as a result. They can find a slip with a very simple flouro procedure. If you tell the docs that there is a financial concern the hospital may have ways to help you. In any case, PLEASE do not put your health at risk!!

I was in the same place last August. The first banding nearly killed me (I spent 4 days in ICU with a blood pressure below 60/40 and a temp over 104F). I was mad that it took so long to find the slip and I was terrified the treatment (the band) was worse than the disease (obesity). After I thought about it and reflected on it, I realized that though better decisions could have been made regarding my care, the complications were noone's fault. My doc and I talked it out and I decided I *needed* to lose the weight. I could do it now, or I could wait 10 years until I had major comorbities that would make it harder. So, I feel GREAT about the rebanding! A week and a half out (this time with the VG band) I feel good and am realizing this was the right choice for me. I think you're very brave to have had a serious complication and get right back up on that horse! It sounds like you've thought it through and made the right decision for you.

My doc didn't say that, but I personally feel that was the case for me due to the severe swelling I experienced.

Hi Jonathan- I think we'll never know for sure, but my doc and I have theories... We know NOW I get nauseated by pain meds. That started it. I also think I am a natural sweller (based on the restriction I have now with the VG band 1.5 weeks after surgery) and I had the 9.75cm band the first time. I'm suprised yours wasn't caught for 10 months - I was SO sick and in pain from my slip! :sick My Dr. thought it was a lot of other things at first too, so he didn't do flouro until a week had passed. You sure can see the slip on the flouro! Were you able to get repositioned? Did they have to do it surgically?

Me! I was rebanded a week ago Monday. The only difference this time is I haven't been violently ill. :welldone2: I only had my band for a week, but 5 days of that was violent wretching and dry heaving. The band slipped (we think on day 4), tests didn't find it until day 7 and by then a portion of my stomach had been pinched off and necrosed. I too had to wait 6 months for everything to heal properly. Best of luck on your rebanding!

If you were there for the Feb PNC meeting I'm pretty sure we did! We;ll have to say Hi again next week if you plan on coming. So far *knock on wood* so good with the rebanding!

I'm pretty new here too. We have the same surgeon! Welcome to LBT :mad:

:fencing: From a new bandster (banded 2/13) so enjoying liquids, this is the battle of me vs. my head hunger!

Ok, I must be thinking mushies. I read that and started thinking of the blender thing and for the life of me couldn't figure out WHERE you would get that stuck! :omg:

Hi everyone! I'm new here and was banded on 2/13/2006 with Dr. Wetherille. This was my second banding (the first was removed after a week due to slippage) and I'm cautiously optimistic that all will work out well this time. Down 4 pounds so far... 244/240/150-145