~Jules~

Susan, I did not have my surgery with Dr. Ortiz, but I believe you will be in good hands. He is well known and has a great reputation.

I just love my band. I would be totally freaked out if I had to lose it. It is my new best friend.

Hi, You should be fine, but your doc will probably have you on liquids for a day or two. Other than that, enjoy!!!

I get it. Tell your doc the truth. They understand.

Why exactly do you want to stay overnight?

Avery, You are doing great!!! 26 pounds is good. My doc told me to wait 1.5 to 2 hours after a meal to start drinking again. I drink all the time. Literally, ALL the time. This is going to be really difficult for me. Anyway....... you are doing great. Hang in there!!

Well, I was banded 3 1/2 weeks ago, 10/26 to be exact. So I am not a November bandster, but I enjoying reading your threads. You guys crack me up. I have made one of the best decision of my life. I will now be able to keep it off. Like most of us, I can get it off, but can't keep it off. I work full-time and attend college full-time. Yea, I know. It's crazy. But I am 41 and don't have forever to drag it out. lol I will actually graduate in December with my bachelor's degree, but will continue on to get my master's. I want to teach. So my master's degree will be a MAT which is a masters of art in teaching. I hope to finish it in May of 2008. That gives me a year and a half. That should be doable and not kill me like the last few semesters have been. I live a little north of Dallas, TX in Flower Mound. I have only lived here for 2 years. I lived about 25 miles south in Irving TX most of my life. Ok, that is enough for now. I am boring myself. lol Just kidding. I am generally a happy person, but the past couple of months I have been on cloud 9. I KNOW this time is "the" time. This excess weight is going away and STAYING away. Woo Hoo!!!!!!! Thanks for your warm welcome and letting me linger in your threads. That sounded a little weird. lol

I would leave out the champagne. It is carbonated. Not good for the band. Plus it wouldn't feel good in your belly. Just my opinion.

Mine is for life. I wouldn't have done it if it was going to be temporary. I can get the weight off, but I can't keep it off. This tool is my friend that is going to help me keep it off. My band is my friend for life. She isn't going anywhere.

I will have "regular" food for the first time on Thanksgiving Day. It is the beginning of my fifth week. I will have very little turkey because I want some of the other things. Mostly mushies. lol I will be able to eat regular food, but want mushies. What is wrong with me. lol Actually I like sweet potatoes. My stepmother is still in the hospital after a quadruple bipass. She usually makes the sweet potato casserole. (aka candied yams). She told me how she makes it so it is up to me now. Since I haven't had a fill yet, I am hoping I can get down a little of the broccoli rice casserole. Just a little will make me happy. I like my Dad's mashed potatoes too. yummy My choices won't be healthy, but I won't be pigging out, so I figure it is ok.

Losingjusme, Thanks. It is certainly going to be a learning experience. But I have dropped a couple more pounds and am thrilled. Until I weighed today, I had only lost one pound since on mushies. Woo Hoo. Also, I haven't eaten anything since the PB. I am still full. lol

The band doesn't do its job until you get fills and find your "sweet spot". I was banded one day after you and I can eat way more than I should. I have only lost one pound since I have been on mushies. I have only lost while I was on liquids. I know it will get better when I can eat real food (regular food) and can get a fill or two. It is tough, but we have to hang in there to give it time to do what it is supposed to do to help us in our journey.

Maybe just tell them you are eating smarter and eating less. This is actually true. Personally, I don't like lying, but in certain cases, dancing around the truth is ok. lol Good luck to you. I hope you can keep the nosey peeps at bay.

Wow Darcy, Your quilt is absolutely beautiful!!!!!! I am so proud for you. I love quilts. Wow.

Stacey, I live in the Dallas area and will probably be going to Dr. Eijsink as well. I can't work out a flight schedule without staying overnight in San Antonio, to get back to Dr. Rodriguez. I think it is only about a 3 to 3.5 hr drive for me, so that won't be too bad. I have heard a lot of good things about her and her husband. Do you feel any different after the fill?

Well, I had my first PB. It was on tuna. I have eaten it probably 10 times over the past week and a half, but today was the day. It sure felt better to get some of it up and out. One thing I know is I still eat too fast. I am seriously going to have to work on that. I need help. Maybe I need to get up and make a trip around the kitchen and living room circle. I don't know. Any ideas?

I think Gayle is right. The stress is probably what makes your band tighter in the evening. From the thousands of posts that I have read, it sure makes sense to me.

Stacey, Where do you live?

nanniemidder, The average price to have the surgery done in Mexico is from $7000 to 10,000. The place I chose was $7300, but it was the best location for me since I am in Texas. It is about 3 hours west of San Antonio. I flew from the Dallas area to San Antonio for about 90 bucks and the patient coordinator picked me up at the airport and took me (and my sister) across the border to the hospital. It was a great experience. I would do it again in a heartbeat. Good luck in your decision.

Michelle, The reason some people don't lose weight is the first few weeks are supposed to be about healing. My doc says if you lose weight, great, but if you don't that is ok too. Look at it like a bonus if you do. I did, but only because I really was careful what I drank during the first couple of weeks. I didn't have ice cream or shakes or stuff like that. I stuck to the slimfast and flavored water and such. Soups that were not fattening as well. Good luck to you. It will be a great journey!!!

That is hilarious.

I can take my pants off without unbuttoning them, but it is only because I have no butt, no hips, and skinny legs. lol Oh well, I guess we can't have everything. :-)

Vegge, You are adorable. I wish you only the best. I know you will be so happy. BTW, the pic with you and your boyfriend was great. You are a very cute couple. Good luck to you!!!

Kat, I am glad you told the girls at the dollar store. The other girl did need to hear that there are options. It was also good for her to know that you walk a lot as well. Walking makes such a difference. In the beginning for me, I didn't want to tell anyone. I told only about 3 people. The closer it got to surgery time and soon afterwards, I didn't care who knew. I think I felt I was taking the easy way out. But it really isn't the easy way out. We have to work at it. It is a tool that helps us get to where we want to be AND stay there. That is the whole kicker for me. I can lose the weight, I just can't keep it off. This will help me keep it off. Two of the people I told in the beginning told other people. My sister told my niece. My significant other told her mother. Then her mother told her sister in law. And of course everyone was like, "Don't tell anyone". It kind of cracked me up more than hacked me off. I don't care anymore. It is ok that they know. I am so surprised at the support that I have received. I think I also didn't want to tell people in the beginning because I didn't want their judgement. But I have not heard one single negative comment. BTW, I can't wait to not be the "big" sister. Especially since I am the youngest. lol

Vegge, I have seen the documentary on Supersize Me. I saw it in school (college) a couple of weeks ago. What an eye opener!! I knew McD's was bad, but my oh my, I didn't know it was that bad. Congrats on your upcoming surgery. You won't regret the preop diet. It will help you so much. Take care.