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Thank you for sharing the U-tube link. VERY helpful!

Very helpful - I will purchase what I need and then do this. I liked your phrasing about getting back in touch with my band. I am at 5 years out. I lost 71 pounds of my 110 I needed to lose, but have slowly gained back 20 pounds these past two years. I know the band is doing its job - and that I am not. I am making really poor food choices, and have fallen into the same pattern that ballooned my weight up to 266 pounds before surgery. I remember my doctor telling me that the band would help with portion control and with my constant feeling of hunger, but it wouldn't be a cure for my poor food choices. He was right! Why is it that people who have bulimia have an "eating disorder" and people like us just have poor self control? A person can eat herself to death doing that!

It looks like Dr. Weaver is way down in Lone Tree - I think that's even farther away than Dr. Metz in Parker! I need a fill and will miss being able to get to Dr. K's office in Aurora. I'm lookng for a new doctor up north. Anyone know of fill doctors in Thornton, Northglenn, Brighton? So if Dr. Weaver took over Dr. K's charts, I'll need to get my records from his office?

I've been thinking of you too Julie. I hope you are healing without any problems this time around! Thanks for the info about North Suburban. I put it on my calendar for January. I need to find a fill doctor up north. I got the referral from Dr. K. to go to Dr. Metz - but I work in Ft. Lupton and live in that area...Parker is too darned far to go! I hope I can find someone up north. Dan - be really careful while you are healing. Even though you feel like you can eat a lot, you are probably still swollen and healing after your surgery. The first month to six weeks is really hard because the lapband isn't doing its job yet. Hang in there - it is a great tool. Merry Christmas everyone. I hope to see some of my lapband buddies at NSMC in January. Mary

I had major problems with constipation for about two months after surgery. It was on and off. Get some fiber meds that you can add to your drink, also, there is a tea called "smooth move" that helps. Drink A LOT of water and hang in there. This is a stage that you will get through. Once you start eating and can include more fiber in your diet, your system will straighten out. Remember that this is a far healther option than by-pass because your system is intact. It just needs to adjust. Good luck!

One of the things my Doctor told me about the pre-surgery weight loss is that is shrinks your liver. This is really important prior to the surgery and makes it go much easier. He put me on a restricted carb diet for three weeks, I lost 11 pounds and had no problems with the procedure. Best thing I have ever done for myself. Best wishes for your surgery. I hope your experience with the lap band is as good as mine has been!

Thanks for the info about Dr.Metz. I changed jobs and now have Kaiser, so maybe my insurance will help out for a change! Are we still up for RR on Sept. 11? Count me in if so. I am happy that Dr. K's retirement party info was posted too. He is just a really nice and caring Doctor. I hope he continues his travels and photography. He is very talented. Take care everyone - hope to see you soon. Mary

Julie, I am so sorry to read what you are going through. I haven't checked this site for weeks and just found your post. WOW. Please give us an update about how it is going. BTW - I have been stuck at the same weight for weeks, and started having trouble keeping food down myself. So I did have a partial unfill and feel much better. I have just joined Weight Watchers Online and like it alot. I need some structure to get this last 40 pounds off. Now if I could just get rid of my double-chin that is looking deflated... Please let us know how you are doing Julie~!

I'll plan to come to RR tomorrow too. What time?

Gosh Julie, I hope you have recovered and that your tummy is back to normal. Good for you for paying attention to your body and taking care of it. I hope you did well "white knuckling" it over the holidays! Just the last two - three weeks out of the blue - wham! I can't hardly eat more than a bite or two. I have had the same fill for at least a year and been so happy. Now I can't eat! I made an appointment to see Dr. K. for a partial unfill tomorrow. Now that the holidays are over, maybe we could have a RR get together? It's been awhile and I'd love to see everyone in person again.

Darn it! I didn't check the website for over a week and I missed a RR get-together! Julie you look like a different woman! I love the haircut and your weight loss is shining throught. Congratulations on the 100 pound mark. Hope everyone has a wonderful Labor day weekend. We are headed for Estes Park

Wow! Look at you; down more than 100 pounds! Yes I am up for RR, Tuesdays are fine for me too. Will be out of town Sept. 13-17, otherwise any week works for me.:smile2:

Hi Amy, I too was a "volume" eater who didn't snack much. The band is the tool that finally helped me get a handle on my eating. I simply cannot overeat anymore. I don't get hungry for at least 4 hours after I eat. I went on a cruise in June and still lost a pound during the trip. I am one of the people who can eat virtually anything - including bread. But I can't eat a lot. I focus on getting my protein in, and don't have room for much else. But I do love my veggies and have a garden, so I have added a protein drink to my daily intake. In terms of aftercare, Dr. K. does have a once a month group counseling session in the evening, and that was helpful to me in the beginning. This Forum has been inspirational and I have met some very fine people online and in person at our Red Robin get togethers when I can. You are going into this for the right reasons, and you will find that the lapband is a fantastic tool! Like others, I saw my PCP a couple of weeks before surgery for an annual physical, and I brought the results with me to Dr. K. when I met with him before the surgery. By the way, I had been on reflux meds for three years prior to the surgery: it was an instant cure for that (it is for most people).

Hi Amy, I'm glad you found us on the Internet. I had my surgery in November of 2008, and have lost 68 pounds. I am within 40 pounds of goal. I never thought I'd get under 200 pounds again, but here I am. I love my band! Dr. K's specializes in laprascopic surgeries, and according to his website, he has done more than 10,000 procedures. I don't know what percentage of these are lap-band procedures. I live near Ft. Lupton and make the drive for adjustments and both Dr. K. and his P.A. are REALLY good at these. Here is what I would suggest to you. Make an appointment for a consultation and meet Dr. K. and his crew. It is free, and there is nothing like a personal appointment to get a feel for his practice. It will give you an idea about the drive as well. I'm betting that you will like the guy as much as the rest of us Dr. K. "Bandsters" do. Also, I was thinking that the McKee medical center in Loveland has a bariatric center too? Anyway, stay in touch with your Colorado contingency and we will be wishing you a great surgery and outcome.

You ladies look wonderful! I just got home from a two week cruise and land tour of Alaska. Weighing 1.2 pounds less than I started! In the old days, I would have gained at least 10 pounds. The funny thing is - I didn't even miss it. I ordered what I wanted and ate my tiny quantities and would be done with it. The amount of food I saw people eating on the cruise was pretty gross. And I would have been right there with them! I love my band.

YES! COUNT ME IN! We are celebrating our 20th anniversary with an Alaskan cruise-tour that departs on June 5. I am just fitting into a size sixteen but they are a bit snug. 10 pounds by June 5 would be awesome!!! That would get me over 70 pounds lost and into ONEDERLAND!

I went to one of Dr. Synder's info sessions and he seems very vested in the success of his surgeries. But since I was self-pay, money was very important too. Dr. K. was about $4,000 less, so that was the deciding factor for me. I have had a wonderful experience with Dr. K and his crew!

Your life is about to change pigletmik! I have no regrets at all about the surgery. It changed my life and gave me a fighting chance in my life-long struggle with food. I also use the gummi-vites. You can get them at Safeway too, but if you have a Costco membership they are much cheaper. It will be at least week or two before you can eat soft/solid food after surgery. This is probably the toughest part of recovery. Have some protein drinks (Safeway's are okay too, but Costco's brand is better). Dr. K. will caution you against hot liquids for several days because you will have swelling after surgery that hot foods will not help. So plan on cold drinks, jello, and protein drinks. Then you can transition to soft foods like yogurt, smoothies (no seeds), etc. Get by a Walgreens or anther pharmacy and buy a pill-splitter. If you have any other pills you take, it may be awhile (if ever) before you can take one whole. Dr. K. said that large pills can and do get stuck. After your tummy is healed, you will have a couple of weeks (minimum) before you can eat solids. Be prepared to experience some hunger, and know that your body needs time to heal. Eating solids too soon can cause slippage and an ineffective band. Just know that this phase is temporary. The very best of luck to you - and keep us posted.

Count me in too! I have been stuck at 205/206 for weeks and I need some motivatin'... I am sooo close to Onederland; so why can't I get there?

Hi Julie, I am sorry to hear of your MIL's death. Even though it was expected, and you had so much stress in your life when she was with you; it is still the loss of a parent. That is a life-event and I wish you and your hubbie and daughter the best.

Dee - You couldn't look happier in this photo! I hope that you found Dr. K. to be receptive to the surgery that you underwent - there are good doctors to be found anywhere in the world - you just have to find them. We have been blessed indeed!

That'll work. I can't wait to see the new you Dee!

Hi Julie, I ended up gaining a couple of pounds Christmas, but got them off right away. My total loss during the challenge was 7 pounds - not the 12 I was hoping for - but still a loss. What time do we meet at RR on the 11th?

Dee- You are a shadow of your former self! You really look wonderful and you still have some swelling to go. I'm so happy for you. We have missed you on the forum and been thinking of you. I am sorry about your best friend. His timing is rather interesting, I must say. After all your months of weight loss, coupled with the highly effective surgery - and this is when he bails on you? Perhaps the new you is a bit scary to him in some way. I will do my very best to join you all on the 11th! Mary

Hey - happy birthday Laptastic! What a huge gift to yourself and you are almost half-way to your goal. Just think of what 62 one pound boxes of butter would look like all stacked up on the floor...that's how much fat you have lost!!! Julie, please put me down for -2 pounds this week. Only 7 pounds to onederland...