Paulax

I think going under the knife is a wonderful thing. lol! IF my tummy skin bothers me a lot, I will get a TT, but if it is something I can live with, I can forgo it. I am not going to join a nudist colony, I am not going to be a bikini model, so if it can be hidden under a good pair of elastic underwear, I will probably forget about it.

I also started out with a BMI of 39 and at nearly 6 ft tall, I DO hide my weight well. I WISH I had it available to me with a lower BMI, because after 3 children and premenopause, I was heading for a much higher BMI than 39. Better sooner than later, I say.... cheers all...

I am glad you found an awesome Dr to do your fills. I read somewhere that a 4cc band will hold MORE than 4cc's. Think balloon. I am not absolutely sure though, so if you find out, let me know. Also, a question if I may. How do you know that you never stretched your pouch? I am curious as I worry about this too and wonder how one can check... TIA

HA! WORD! I have thought of going to WW, BUT, I don't want to spend the money. I am a self pay. BUT I did like the accountability and the camaradorie of being in a group of people with similar goals. But instead go to my low carb site as well as here. But as I always say, 'if it works, do it' Cheers!

I have wondered the same thing. I too am not a prude, but I am offended by pornography on websites that have nothing to do with porn. I do appreciate how quickly the posts are taken down though.

I payed 12,500 Canadian for comparison. I would rather have this band than a new car, so that has been my reasoning. lol! And yes, a lifetime of savings from binging and overeating will more than pay for my band. lol

I have both laughed and cried with your stories. Makes me sad that even the ones who love us the most, can hurt us the worst. My father used to call me "Tumba" and laugh at me, literally laugh at me. He was loving and attentive and protective in every other way but with my weight. People just don't understand that obesity is NOT a character flaw, or a weakness, or laziness. It is a brain disorder, a personality disorder, whatever it is, the problem is NOT yet understood by the medical communtiy and obesity has not yet been solved. The lap band is helping me achieve what might otherwise be near impossible.

I am soooooooooo happy for you.....I can hardly wait to post a similar thread. 29 pounds to go before I can. THAT is an awesome accomplishment and what a milstone. Congratulations. :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: and isn't it nice to know that you may NEVER see 200 ever again?????

I am tough as nails about many things, 3 kids, natural childbirth, 3 surgeries etc. But little tiny needles scare me. Go figure. I was so nervous about my first fill. My surgeon does not use any numbing agent. I also didn't look, and was happily embarrassed by the lack of pain of my first and second fill. :nervous

Marjon, I have pulled out my juicer so I can easily 'eat' or digest the goodness from the juices of any vegetable. I found and bought some aloe vera dessert from the Chinese specialty foods section of my grocer, after reading this thread. I will keep this if I ever feel something stuck. Good information in this thread.... And yes, I just enjoyed a salad with much shredded carrots...yum...

Update? I am wondering how you know for certain it was/is there? Can you feel it? Can you see it under floro? Just curious. Hope it passed....

I am really feeling like I need a fill. I am still fairly tight in the am, but can eat too much in the pm. Will wait a few more weeks and watch my weight. I have not lost, but not gained over the Christmas holidays, but defin ate too many sweets. Cheers everyone.

I had a general and gyno surgery only 2 weeks after my lap band, NO PROBLEM. Don't worry. Hugs, that IS a lot to think about. I feel so wonderful, I am so glad I did both surgeries, and I got to heal from them both at the same time. I swear I should be a lab rat, I felt just fine. Hope you do too.

THAT is so awesome, Congratulations on your hard work.

Ericsmom, that is such an accomplisment. Contratulations. I am checking in just to check in. I am going low carb to get this sugar out of my system and as soon as all the hullabub is over, I am getting back on some kind of exercise regime.

Wow, great gift to yourself indeed!

Id also do it all over again. If I didn't, I have no doubt that I'd still weigh 280 pounds. Good luck in your decision. hugs

I don't eat out much, but when I do, I just eat off my kids' plates. I agree that you need to get over your "have to eat everything on your plate" idea. I have it too, lets not treat our bodies like garbage cans....

Hey, Oldspark, get a hot tub... I did and LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it.......I can go there every single night of the week, in every type of weather and just enjoy...

Oh dear, I thought of jumping off the op table and running. I thought about my 3 young kids. I thought of everything negative and everything positive. I am almost 5 months out and 50 pounds down now and I am SO glad I didn't jump off the table and run away. Good luck tomorrow. See you on the other side. It is pretty great over here. hugs

Wow, beautiful skin Diane. I have to pipe in as I have keloids. I am NOT happy with my scars thus far. The skin on my tummy was one of the nicest parts of my body despite it being fat. But, you said it. I'd WAY rather be at goal and have a few scars to tell my story. I CAN always have a plastic surgeon work on making them lighter or thinner later when I am at goal. Good luck with your decision. I am sure happy with mine to get banded and 4 months later I am 50 pounds lighter on my feet.

Teresita, I WAS bulemic and still have tendencies. You are not alone. Please, we have to work on this. I keep thinking of something my banded friend said. She said something like, 'We have to watch out how many times we 'test' our band, because we have to take good care of it to KEEP it..." Now her idea of 'testing' may have been overeating. In my case, it is eating, vomiting and eating more. Any such stress may aid in erosion, the band eating its way into the stomach lining or putting stress on our esophagus. There are many things htat can happen. So I guess I am saying, we love our band, we need to be careful to follow the rules as closly as we can, not putting pressure or stressing it by overeating, and/or bringing up food unnesessarily. However else we need to release our stress, we need to find a way OTHER than eating.... hugs and know that you are not alone. Good for you for coming out. I guess it kind of helped me come out so thanks for that.

50 pound loss as of today! Whoooooo hoooooo!

Banded July 21. This morning I can declare a 50 pound weight loss...... Wow, does this ever feel good.:clap2: :clap2: :clap2:

Banded 4 months ago. Feeling GREAT! But, this morning I have a rash all over my body, mostly my torso, some on my legs. They look like mosquito bites, they don't hurt, they don't itch, but I am worried about it being related to my band. Could it be lack of nutrition? Could it be my hot tub, chlorine? Tell me anything but it being my band.