Tulip

congratulations Tonya. I hope to be joining you in the 160s soon. Losing 80 pounds is a major accomplishment!

I never tried Peanut Butter. But my biggest no-nos are tamales and scrambled eggs. Next on the list is leftover chicken - way too dry. chocolate goes down too easy.

You look really good and you seem to have really good skin elasticity. I think I have the same bra. You look so much better than I do, I don't think I would have the surgery if I looked as good as you do. Then again, you should do what you feel most comfortable with. You have made such good progress that you are allowed that choice.

Sula, that must be frustrating to know how much a lapband could help your brother, but not be able to approach him about it. At least you are setting an example and when/if he decides that he might want to discuss it, you will be there for him. Audree - congratulations on the inches and pounds lost. That is really awesome! You just continue to encourage and support everyone around here and are a great role model. Enterprise, I just remembered that your appointment was rescheduled. I'll check back for your pictures.

Happy Friday to you too Tonya. If you are losing inches, the pounds will follow. I appreciate all of you in our Jan bandster group. I always know you are caring, thoughtful and supportive. I can't imagine trying to get support from a group that digs and flames each other. I haven't ever been to that other thread, and will keep it that way. Enterprise, when is your appointment? Let us know what you find out. I'm excited for you!

Oh, I feel for you. After all the hard you have gone through only to have the apppointment postponed is awful. However, I am so proud of you for losing all this weight in such a short time. My first response to our surgeons request was "hey , this ain't gastric bypass, this is the slower lapband". Even so, you have exceeded mine and surely the doctor's expections. You should be in like flint. On a side note, are you planning to attend the doctor's Ball? I haven't decided yet. Is it to late. I am a bit shy (as is my DH) but I think I could benefit from the interaction from my fellow lapbanders. Terry

I went to a PS to inquire about breast reduction because all my earlier life I was used to being flat and somewhat thin. after lapand I have gone from 42DD to a 38 DD. Well, that is nice but I'm still too big. My clothes are deterined by my boob size and I don't like this. Wearing a size 12 pants with DD boobs! My first consult with PS said I did not need a reduction, just a lift. The second PS consult said I would benefit from both reduction and lift. He was considered that I might loose more and reduce the cup size. Now I'm not sure. Maybe I need the lift and that would take care of both problems. I thik I'll hold off on any of these decisions for a while. good luck to the rest of you. I'll be watching your progress and hope the best. Tulip

What is this with neck and shoulder pain? I have the same thing going on and have been using heat for ease the tightness. Nope, I've had no depression about my lap band, in fact quite the opposite. I remember getting depressed about quitting smoking back in 1998, so that might be a similar experience. I viewed the lap band as totally positive. Since I can still eat most foods that I like I don't feel deprived. I just can't as much as before. For Proteins I sometimes nibble on turkey breast lunchmeat, canned tuna, lentil Soup (or other soft beans). I can eat most meats as long as they aren't too dry. Post op, I used my Magic Bullet and could take just about any soup, stew or meal and puree it for the mushy part of the diet. I had unjury Protein shakes on hand for the first couple of months, and then switched to Profect for a protein bullet (25 grams of protein with little calories). Tonya and Sula, hope you get to feeling better soon. Terry

Enterprise, my SIL had this surgery done and her scars are a very thin pale white line. The scars were red and then pink for a year, until finally fading to white. She does not tan, continuously wears sunscreen and took good care of her scar. She does wear sleeveless tops and looks fantastic. I think the results with a scar depends on an individual basis, and aftercare. Most importantly is to not gain weight after surgery. Good luck!

My consult went well, and I was impressed with the staff. I saw Dr. Heller first, then had pictures taken by office manager, Jacqueline, and then his assistant Dina went over the fees with me. Maybe her name was Dina instead of Inga and I didn't hear it right. There is a chance that I could get my insurance to pay for breast reduction which would require a night at hospital. If they approve paying for the breast reduction, then he would do the other procedures at the same time (breast lift, tummy tuck with body lift). He did not mention the TV show to me at all. The cost is higher than I expected and even though I told him I was Dr. Spivak's patient he never mentioned a discount. My first step is to find out if my insurance will pay for breast reduction and go from there. Dr. Heller seemed concerned that my weight has not been stable for long enough, and he felt I have more losing to do. Enterprise, I'm excited for you, to be able to lose as much as you have in such a short time frame is wonderful. When will you find out for sure about the surgery?

I'm sorry because I was laughing reading about your first PB episode. No way I could ever top that story. I've had the same thing around people that don't know about my band, but I've always somehow had an opportunity to slip away. My last experience at a restaurant was pretty bad, with a group of people from work that don't know about my band. I had to excuse myself and go to the restroom 4 times, and I couldn't even muster "gas problem". I just said I had a problem with my stomach. It was embarrasing, but let them think what they wanted. I did go for a slight unfill today, removed .4cc to get back to 2.2 cc. Thanks for the enouraging words. The office manager told me the same as your did, that each person is different in what level gives them restriction. The good news was that I lost over 4 pounds since my last fill in August. I am about 15 pounds from goal and will try to use band rules to keep losing even if it is a slower rate.

Juno, welcome back and congrats on reaching your low spot even without trying. Audree, I sent you a PM about the quickslim. Sula, I'm glad you are the one that found that kitty. I read your comment about your friend that got stuck on lettuce and felt confirmation that I need a slight unfill. I have one year of free aftercare (fills and unfills) and feel like I should take care of this too tight feeling while I still have this aftercare. If they take out too much, I still have some time to have a fill added back. Halloween was fun here in my neighborhood. We had tons of kids, by the van loads. I tried to give away as much candy as possible, and still ended up with some left over. Drats! I wasn't on my best behavior and had about 3 mini chocolate bars. My eating problems pre-band did not concern sweets. My problems had been: 1. Eating too much at a time without portion control. I NEVER used to go boxes, and could usually clean my plate. (Like my parents taught me). 2. Salty snacks were the draw. Chips, popcorn, nuts, you name it, those were my weakness. So where has this sudden interest in chocolate come from? I don't know. Now, the bad news. I have been too tight since my last fill. I have had slimming problems several times a week, more than too many PB episodes. And I know I am stuck way too much. Once I have get stuck, I feel swollen and cannot get mushies down and feel awful. I called my doctor's office and they suggested I try liquids and mushies for a couple days or else come in for a "deflate". I went over 2 days on mushies/liquids and was doing fine. As soon as I introduced solids, I started back with that stuck feeling. So tomorrow I go for a slight unfill. I'm confused because I don't have as much fill as others around here, but yet I know I'm too tight. I don't want to risk a slip or erosion even though I have some more weight to lose. I hope I don't gain too much weight in the meantime. Maybe just a very slight unfill will help. Terry

Julie, I'm glad you are feeling better about all of this. I want to thank you for this thread, and will keep in touch. I think there are a lot of us that binge problems or tendencies. I don't find myself binging like pre-band, but still make some bad choices on foods. I can remember after surgery being on a liquid diet, slipping a slice of pizza into my mouth just to savor the flavor, not even chewing. Just letting the flavor drizzle down my throat. And then taking the piece out. I can see the satisfaction and am glad you are talking about this with your therapist. For me, I am almost too tight and am dealing with too many episodes of sliming. I am almost back on mushies and liquids to try to resolve this. If it doesn't improve in a few days I will have to "deflate" but I don't want to gain. Arghh!

Enterprise - you can do those last 5 pounds. How exciting. Is the liposuction sheduled for the same time? I have my consult with Dr. Heller on Friday. What is his assistant like? Will I feel uncomfortable with her or him? I haven't lost as much weight as you have and I'm afriad he will tell me to keep losing and come back in a year. I would love to have a breast lift, and tummy tuck. Please tell me more about his office staff. I'm so glad for you and know you will be getting the surgery on the house!

Enterprise, you look fantastic! I agree with the others comments about stressing your need to improve your health and your own self esteem. Just keep up the comforting comments with your boyfriend and hopefully he will accept that you will not leave. Audree, Is Quickslim30 sold at Walmart? Are there any interactions with prescription medicines that should be avoided? I take blood pressure and cholesterol medicine and wondered about that.

The worse problem for me is tamales. No way to get them down. next on the list is scrambled eggs. I can tolerate fried eggs, but scrambled eggs will not work.

That is so awesome that you could have the surgery at such a low price. Maybe he put the 10 pounds number out there as a carrot to encourage you to lose as much as you can. My only suggestion would be to walk as much as you can, count your calories, and take diuretics before your next weigh in. I hope you are selected for the show. Do you know which channel is doing his TV show? I want to be sure and watch to follow your progress. How do you feel about being a TV star? I called his office to talk about my PS wish list and discuss a consultation. I'll try to schedule a consult with him in November. What was your impression of him as a surgeon? This is so exciting for you!

I thought I'd start a thread here to see if Dr. Spivak's 2007 bandsters any interest in joining a thread to help support/encourage each other. I was banded on January 8, 2007 at Park Plaza. The surgery went well. I had more pain than I expected for the first 3 days. Couldn't get in or out of bed by myself, and gas pains were awful! I'm much better now but still have an occasional gas pain in my left shoulder when I sit for over an hour. Approaching 4 weeks this coming Monday. That means I am still on soft foods, and have lost 20 pounds! Yea! I called to get an appointment for my first follow-up and fill for Feb 12. I am ready because my hunger is returning. I don't want to gain any weight back that I have lost. Care to join this thread? Please introduce yourself. If anyone has questions or concerns, join in. Terry

It is so nice to see some messages here today. Welcome back Audrey and congrats on your 40 pounds lost. Getting within 5 pounds of goal is really great, and so encouraging to the rest of us. I thought I had read that you had a tummy tuck a few years back. Then again I might have you mixed up with someone else. Did you have PS in the US or Mexico? Who was your surgeon? Would you recommend him? Enterprise, please let us know how your consult appointment goes. I need to check with Dr. Heller, what is his phone number? How much does he charge for a consult?

Laughing here because I made sure I was not standing up straight, and low and behold, I was an inch shorter than I thought. Also I accidentally had some deep sea fishing weights that I forgot were in my pocket. I too had co-morbidities and even though I met all the insurance requirements with BMI of 35, they still did not pay because my insurance required a BMI of 35 for the PAST five years. I just accepted it and paid out of pocket. My labs and health have dramatically improved and I don't regret a minute of paying for this surgery.

Thanks for adding this quote. It is so appropriate. I really like it. Congrats on your success. I can see you are doing really well. How are you feeling? Terry

I think it took about 2 weeks for my swelling to go completely down. I couldn't bend much at the waist for at least 2 weeks. My port is in a different location (centered between my bra line and waist), so I just looked fat, not lopsided. Have patience, it will get better

Oh wow! Congratulations on reaching a milestone. I got close to bottom 170's (174), and then gained a pound and have been stuck here for a while. I know I could lose some if I could get back on the treadmill. I have a feeling you will be singing the 160's song very soon. Let us know.

Tracy, how often do you go in for followups? I only go in when I want a fill, or if I have problems. Glad your last fill is giving you restriction.