Band_Groupie

Congratulations on getting a date. Woot!

Congratulations on getting a date! Woot!

We had a raucous good time partying with our neighbors last night in Pittsburgh. Captain Sidney Crosby hoists the Stanley Cup. Pittsburgh Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin hoists the Conn Smythe Trophy after defeating the Detroit Red Wings in Game 7 of the NHL Stanley Cup Final hockey series in Detroit, Michigan, June 12, 2009. REUTERS/Shaun Best

210.5 -First gain week since surgery and I did it in a big way...gained everything back that I lost last week after my first fill. Time to call the doc and see if I can get in earlier than 7 weeks (between fills)...bummer.

Glad you're doing so well! Wow...first fill coming up!

Well, part of that depends on how tight it is and how tall you are...a few pounds on someone tall like me doesn't make as much of a difference in sizes. I'd also be asking myself how much you've been able to lose in a month on your own before the LB...I wouldn't count on the first fill helping much if you look at the odds. Third, I'd be checking with the dress shop to see how fast you can exchange for a different size. I agree with above, if you're working out a lot you can probably lose about 2 pounds a week on your own if your watching the calories. Good luck!! -BG

You look great Ben...could be your own son even, you look so much younger! Ahh Paris...my favorite place also...and the place where I decided to start looking at the LB (climbing all those stairs!). Fun movie..you were great! Keep sharing; I always learn something from you. -BG

I know I read this somewhere months ago and now I can't find it...How many cc's does it take just to fill the Port and the Tubing in the Lap Band APS (standard/small 10cc band)? I just got my first fill (0 fill at surgery) of 3cc's and I'm wondering how much of that actually made it to the Band. Thanks!

Well it’s just ½ day of school away from officially being ‘summer break’ here. Things are going to get busy around here fast. For the kids ‘summer break’ means a welcome long hiatus from school, fun activities, vacations, sleeping in and lots of restful free-time. For a stay-at-home Mom, it means all that and; planning, packing, driving and entertaining everyone for three months while your usually neat home is invaded by mud slinging (no, the real mud), endlessly hungry teenage aliens who can’t heat up a hotdog without using every dish in your home. No really, I love summers. It brings a whole different attitude to our home. When else can you wake up not knowing what you’ll be doing most days and where your biggest worry is ‘what’s the weather today’. I’ll probably be skipping lots of blogs this summer and I’m sure you will too, but no worries, we’ll keep in touch. I’ll be around often…I need my blog…therapy is expensive, this blog is cheap. It’s like sending your kids to summer camp…you never know when you’re going to hear from them and when you don’t, you’re happy for them as you know they’re busy off doing something fun. So I hope I don’t see you here at least a couple of weeks this summer and that you’re off vacationing with little umbrellas in your drinks, visiting family (the ones you like), or doing something equally as fun! So is hunting season on now? Why we need schools.

Hey girl...I started an April Bunnies Thread last week asking people to update how they're doing and one of the questions I asked was about fills, band size, #, amount...check it out as it might help: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f294/april-bunnies-09-lets-share-how-you-doing-95574/ As you know, since you posted there, I also started a thread asking about how many cc's it takes to fill the port/tubing alone. When your doc told you it takes 2cc's just to fill the port and tubing, then how did he justify that he only gave you 1.5cc's total so far so none of that is in your band and even the tubing isn't full yet? I don't know how this isn't just a rip off. I feel for you and I'd insist on a larger fill next time. Surgery 4/22- 0 fill then, 1 fill at six weeks of 3 cc's (10cc capacity band)

I agree...if you're sure your band wasn't primed/filled at surgery then you are getting ripped off. There aren't any 'standards' for fills so each doc approaches it differently, but the band doesn't start filling until the port and tubing are full (I'm 99% sure the tubing is one length and isn't changed). I would go to the LB site and see if they have info. on standards and statistics (like average # of fills it takes to get to your sweet spot). I've read it averages 4-6 fills and a fill of around 5-6cc's for most to get there. My doc is super conservative...didn't put any fill in at surgery (he has some patients who never need a fill), but even he gave me 3cc's at my first fill (I expect the next one will be smaller as the first one included the prime). I'd insist your doc give you more and that you're willing to come back in if it's too much. Heck, I'd ask my doc how much it takes to just fill the port/tubing and let him explain why he hasn't even filled those yet!

You look great!!!

Good for you! Wish I could have been there to see you in action! Good luck back at work today, hope you're feeling better! -BG

Congratulations!!!!!

The only way I could lose 10 pounds in a couple of weeks is a strict liquid protein shake diet (low carb).

Congrats on the 17 pounds!!! Those classes sound like a wonderful idea! -BG

So now you've got 1.5...or did the doc put a fill in during the surgery like most of them do? I'm hoping at least your port/tubing are filled! THANKS! Just what I needed!

*Post Deleted for Lap Band Book

40 pounds is awesome...I count from my first PCP diet visit also. 2 miles a day is great...I wish I could be that consistent! 32 lbs. in 6 weeks is amazing! I've heard of people tightening up weeks later, awesome...not hungry for 6 hours, so jealous! Sorry about the chicken (that's about half my Protein intake). Congrats on the new BF! That's good news on the diet Coke. Sorry about all the 'stucks', is it just certain foods or is it just when you forget to chew anything? Keep in mind there's a huge learning curve with this band and don't beat yourself up for not getting it all perfect. Stay focused on what you're doing that's positive; you're in Onederland, you're riding your bike! Great job all! Hope to hear from some more bunnies!

DS1's Graduation was perfect. It was a beautiful evening outside in the stadium. I wore my sunglasses to hide all my tears and had my tissues handy. DS1 was so happy. We got lots of pics with him and all his friends…what a great group of kids they are (a bunch of well rounded smart kids with great futures). We went out as a family afterward for a late dinner at DS1's work place (fancy Italian restaurant) and it was a lovely end to the day. The place is huge and packed, but so many co-workers came over to offer their congratulations and tell us what a great kid/worker he is. *Portion of Post Deleted for Lap Band Book

PD- Good analogy...I don't think I could carry 5 of those...can't imagine strapping 40 lbs. to my back every day...makes you appreciate the 'lighter load'. lauraq- Countdown time for you! Thanks for the encouragement and good luck on your banding!

fernie- Thanks, great idea!

DS1 decided to have his graduation party next month (they go on all summer here). I’m making a DVD slide show set to music that plays music clips in the background. We set it up to play continuously where the food tables are so people can watch some/all as they arrive. I’m putting together the elements of it now; about 10 pics from each year of his life set sequentially and about 10-11 song clips; about 2 min. each. I have to finish soon as I send the scanned pics and music to an expert who makes it all look pretty. I did the same thing as a surprise for DD’s graduation party 4 years ago, so this time DS1 knows its coming and has been helping me screen some songs. DD is like me and likes a little bit of everything so it was easy to pick music for hers (and there were several daughter/girl songs). I ended up with a lot of country just because the lyrics worked well with little kid pictures. DS1’s a rocker and doesn't like country...so we found lots more rocker/current ones that he’ll pick 2-3 from for his High School years. I need mostly songs that are appropriate for little kid pics and the growing up years as that’s most of the pics/show. If you have any suggestions, or opinions, let me know! Here’s our working list that we’ve yet to narrow down. GROWING UP SONGS (Pick 8-9) - “My Wish” Rascall Flatts - “Miracle” Celine Dion - “Beautiful Boy” John Lennon http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5HyePwfIXQ&feature=related OR Celine Dion - “Somewhere over the Rainbow” Israel Kamakowiwo’ole http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAIKznMPXUk - “Days Go By” Keith Urban - “Teach Your Children Well” Crosy, Stills, Nash & Young http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6pphVs8bF0 - “Landslide” Stevie Nicks http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f46rv5EWbAU OR Smashing Pumpkins - “Good Riddance” (Time of Your Life) Green Day http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClhNPb3mmpI - “Wonderful World” Louis Armstrong http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xk9ItaDWxgk OR Joey Ramone - “Times of Your Life” Paul Anka http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4CIBHLPjBI&feature=PlayList&p=30B6FE7B47078485&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=34 OR Joanna Wang - “Life is a Highway’ Tom Cochrane http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9NS5o71DPE - “Forever Young” Rod Stewart http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juJyIxZ-p6M OR Bob Dylan - ??“The Times are They are a Changing” Tracy Chapman http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_I2ep0wNFVM OR Bob Dylan - ??"Tough little boys" Gary Allan http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzmgAM8rIgo - ??“Whenever You Remember” Carrie Underwood http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yc6y9_2CoPI - ??“Do I Make You Proud” Taylor Hicks HS SONGS (Pick 2-3) - “I’m Not Gonna Cry” Corey Smith - “Friends Forever” Vitamin C - “Name” Goo Goo Dolls - “The Climb” Miley Cyrus - “My Generation” The Who - “This is Your Life” Switchfoot - “Best Days” Graham Coulton - “I Will Remember You” Ryan Cabrera - "Here In This Diary" Ataris - "But A Breath" The Wedding - “No such thing” John Mayer - “Please Remember” Leanne Rimes - “Graduation Song” Amy Diamond - “High School” The Friday Night Boys *Noticably missing are "Unwritten" - Natasha B. and "I will Remember You"- Sarah M. (he nixed)

Thanks C. That's what I would have guessed, but I couldn't remember. I hope he gave you more than .5 this time!