Yoda

LOL @ Loriely, Mr Loriely, & Susansilver!! Thanks for the chuckle. It's very late and I'm up with Mr Yoda for a pain pill and walk (a good caretaker, am I!) and checked on here briefly. You're all too funny....."ears pinned", "face cream"!!! Hyuck Hyuck!!! When 900 years old you reach, look as good, you will not. -- Yoda

Yup, what Kat said. The studies DO show that the results are equal to gastic bypass (ie. after 5 yrs). Yes, it takes longer but the results are equal and, more importantly the surgery is easier, less invasive, less complications (no actual "cutting") and is adjustable. You really do have to do your own research so you have your own peace of mind. Don't believe what that nurse said. As for our GPs, yes...both ours (mine and Mr Yoda's) were highly supportive. Good luck.

Mandi....I am 5'5". (but I have reallllly short legs!). (freakishly so, but thankfully they reach the ground! - this isn't even a "Yoda" joke...I really do have short legs!) LOL Thanks Lila....yeah, I'm usually a lil' on the funky side...it is my rebellious nature in me coming out!! (Of course it is much more fun dressing "funky" in smaller sizes now). You should SEE the shoes I recently got.....I'll take a photo one day and show 'em!! Lets just say I would completley fit in during TO's annual "Carabana"!!!!

Nooooo, sadly....no family rate!!!! Loriely and Mr Loriely might have gotten one because they booked theirs at the same time (I believe) and only had their surgeries a couple of weeks apart. (Loriely can confirm!). But we had ours (& booked them ) a year apart....so treated differently. We even had to pay more since we each stayed overnight at the clinic!!! (sleep apnea). No matter though...still worth the money. :nervous

LOL ummm, yeah Mandi...I find the biggest difference is in my face too!!! (Smartass!!!)

Thanks Loriely. I am a size 16 in pants though I'm still wearing some of my 18s (it's hard to part with my new "faves"). I have become very good friends with my belts....although Mr Yoda has had to punch several new holes in them and cut off the ends to shorten them - they were wrapping half way around me!. The other day I bought shorts...size "Large" (which freaked me out!). As for tops....it varies....depending sometimes still a 1X...other times an XL or L.... I am now in Men's medium T-shirts though (which also freaked me out!) LOL If I can eventually get to a size 12, I will feel I've "made it" but that may be unrealistic for me and my structure....I honestly think I'll be happy in a size 14. At my heaviest I was in size 26 pants (that were too tight in some instances & probably should have been a 28!). I've come a loooong way baaaaaby!!! (I keep having to remind myself!). So Loriely....when will we see some before/afters of you?? Hmmmmmm????

Her doctor was Dr. Yau!! He works out of the Scarborough-Grace as well as TLBC.

Alrighty then. To celebrate my one year bandiversary (21 Apr 07) and to quell the previous demands for photos, I have relented and here ya'll go (for those who are interested!). :phanvan The "before" was taken around Dec 2004. I may have been about 10-15 lbs heavier at my heaviest but alas, there are very few photos of me around that timeframe and later (gee, I wonder why?!! - I'm sure many of you can relate!). :bandit The "after" was taken the first week of Apr 2007 (about 2 weeks shy of my one year mark). (& yes, that is Mr Yoda in the "before" photo with me....we look like twins, eh??) :paranoid :heh:

Yes, Robgob's mom and I had a nice long chat in the waiting room!

Best of luck JLB!! You'll do GREAT!

Glad you made a smart decision Becca and called for the defill. Best to be safe than sorry. Don't worry 'bout it....eventually most people have an episode like that (live and learn!). I hope this one does the trick for you for awhile! You're doing great though, so keep it up. :Banane43:

So proud of you Mandi (and not just re. the size 12!!!)...(YOWZERS!!!) Sounds like you made a wise decision re. the job....good for you for not getting "trapped" and well done for being honest. I'm glad they respected your decision and are still supportive; it really does sound like a good employer!

Yup, you are likely overfilled and need a small defill. The liquid should be able to go down....maybe trickle, but definitely go down and not "sit at the top" or make you feel at all uncomfortable. That is why you normally ensure you can drink like that before you leave after the fill. If it is doing that to liquid, you will have a rough time on solids...and this is all about eating "normal" food....so if you can't....well you get the picture! As a matter of fact, while Mr Yoda was having his surgery yesterday, I had a teensy defill and had .25 ccs taken out. This was because I was too tight in the morning and unable to eat before noon (not supposed to happen) and I was sometimes starting to vomit after eating. *peeks at Mandi*.....ahem......yes, I had a teensy defill, my friend!! (thanks for the nudge the other day). :rolleyes :phanvan

That's awesome Lila!! Nice going!! By the way.... r u missin' Meccckio??

You definitely get to consult with Dr Yau....all you have to do is ask. You see the pre-op coord. first and then the doc (if you so chose).

Tomorrow you join the banded side! We're all rootin' for ya!!! Good luck and best wishes!!! Be good to yourself during your recupe and let us all know how you're doing when you feel up to it! (btw, your man is a keeper....a pedicure!!!) :gluck:

Glad everything went well for you and that you are on your way!!! Just tylenol #3?! Hmmmmm, I had demerol. Oh....then again maybe it is because my body doesn't convert the codeine into the pain killer (I believe morphine?)....I don't have the enzyme that does that. (I found that out the difficult way after a previous surgery when the codeine just did NOT work!...not a fun time). No matter....I have left over demerol if Mr Yoda will need it!! :kiss Anyways....best o luck on your recovery!

Yeah, the colours suck and it's hard to see the borders...they don't jump out at ya etc.... I had to laff Mandi....when Mr Yoda saw the skinny chick up top he said, "hey isn't that Argon"???!!! :fish: I think she's laffin' at all of us??!

well done and way to go msrobby!!! :clap2: Feels great, eh?!

I know you guys won't want to hear this but I'm gonna be the voice of reason. There is no "average weight loss" for the pre-op; that is NOT why you are doing this. It just doesn't matter how much you lose (or don't lose) during the pre-op or the post-op for that matter. It really doesn't even matter until you have the proper restriction in the band. Yeah, usually a by-product of the pre-op and post-op diets is weight loss but that is NOT the goal. The one and only goal of the pre-op diet is liver shrinkage....as long as that happens, you're laffin' and in good shape....if you happen to lose some weight...bonus....if not or if you don't lose as much as you were hoping/expecting....no worries...that wasn't the point. As for the post-op diet, the only goal of that is proper healing for your band placement. Again, if you lose weight....bonus...but that isn't the goal and be warned that many people don't lose much weight during the post-op diet. But that is okay....the point at that time is not the weight loss....it is healing and getting a well placed band. Once you are off the post-op diet, you most likely won't have restriction (or at leat not the right amount) and you still may not lose weight as quickly as you would like (or even not at all). Once you have "proper" restriction the goal is to lose 1-2 lbs per week!!!! So, just remember all your research and why you chose this procedure in the first place and don't lose sight of the long-term goal...THAT should be what you are working towards. Any losses gained as a by-product are just a bonus but certainly don't stress about them or get upset/angry/disappointed if it doesn't happen the way you want....as odds are it won't! You have enough to worry about besides putting this onto your plate! Okay....voice of reason off now!!! :nervous

YUP...what Andrew said. Gastric By-pass folks lose much faster (initially) and lose a LOT upfront. But as a result of that (& the nature of their surgical procedure) they have many more complications (some quite serious) and there is a much greater chance that they put the weight back on. With lapband, the is a MUCH lesser chance of putting the weight back on..and yes....it does take longer (in most cases) to lose the weight (But this is a good thing). Slow but sure wins the race. And, most importantly, as Andrew already pointed out....all the studies out there show that after 5 yrs, lapband patients lose the same amount of weight as bypassers. Just don't compare yourself to anyone (whether a fellow bandster or a by-pass patient)....you can't compare yourself to anyone else in terms of speed of loss....there are way too many variables and each individual is different...not only in the way they are physically "wired" but other variables as well that affect weight loss. But, obviously the band works!

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now now Donna...'nuff of THAT! He don't need no encouragment!!!:paranoid

Popsicles were a life saver for me. I started on them the day after surgery. It gave me something to do with my mouth other than swallow.... (ahem....you guys get your minds outta the gutter!!!) :embarassed: Seriously....they really helped...and they also helped to keep me hydrated. I had the Delmonte juice Pops....(small and 100% juice). I've already got a box in the freezer for Mr Yoda.

LOL ya have to read between the lines when I say "work out" 5 times a week!!!! Gaffer has a point though....I just got off the phone with Mr Yoda (making breakfast for 1000 people....poor guy) and he was saying that he is feeling really tired. I guess so!!!! Who wouldn't on like what.... 3 calories a day! LOL So, I suppose I should let him rest! :rolleyes :notagree But um....ahem....nice to know you're concerned Donna!!!