Lap_dancer

Great advice.

There is a thread on what to pack but I wouldn't know how to begin searching for it. I can tell you that I packed light. I brought GASX strips that disolve in your mouth. Your doctor will give you RX for pain. Try to get those filled before the surgery. I wore loose fitting clothes, easy on easy off to the hospital. Plan on sleeping after the surgery. If you have any RX's don't forget to bring those. I didn't have a problem with my medication as all the pills were small. Practical things like Maps to the medical facility and of the town helped..I just Googled and printed them and tucked them in my purse. Best of luck.

Congratulations on June 6th. I don't think you are so abnormal for being scared. Fear of the unknown is very common. Think of it as elevated adreneline because you are so excited about the possibilities.

In a New York minute. This is the perfect fit for me.

Any recommendations for a hotel in Aurora?

Well I won't talk BMI I'll just tell you I started at 375. I know when you are 500+ pounds you probably think "I wish I was 375". That's how I view those in the 200's. The best advice I saw was let your fingers do the walking. Call, ask. Be persistant. There is hope. That you chose that word is moving because it is precisely the same word used by myself when describing the Lap Band process. My best to you. Another biggy. Patty

Happy Sunday everyone. I hope your weekend is going well. On the topic of food and managing food. I don't know that I will ever make peace with food. While giving nutrition to me it has also been the bane of my existance. Too often I have been sailing along on a diet only to mistakenly allow myself a small something I enjoy and that thing created a trigger that sent me reeling into a binge. The only difference I feel now is I risk vomiting if I do that. Last night I made beer bread. I softened it with the broth, not gravy, I was serving with it. Where I normally would have taken out half the loaf, I had about two good slices before I felt full and even a twinge of OUCH. I don't even have a fill yet. But having the band there is obviously causing some type of restriction or I wouldn't have these sensations in my body of feeling restriction. We've all had years..YEARS of practicing what to do wrong. It will take us time to learn what to do right. What helps is to think about that, and be patient with myself....what I call "being your own mother". ....................................................................................... Got my car rental for Denver. I am looking forward to our The Gathering. Just to sit with you all and listen to you face to face will be a joy. Patty

Woofay you're always thinking. Great idea to have Marcy think about her supplements while in the lower 48. Goodmorning friends. Now that I know what to expect for my fill, after I have this fill when can I expect to go back for a second fill?

Happy End-of-the-school-year to all educators! I'm at work and wrapping up the last of my desk items. Woo Hoo! SUMMERTIME. Hello Marcy in Alaska. YIPES...$7 for milk??? WHOA. Must be like ordering a cocktail at a restaurant. But Alaska is amazing. I was there last summer. You live in a wonderful state. Good luck on your surgery and all that it entails. Hello Friends! Great to always read your kind words on here and your encouragement to eachother. Drew hope that knee is coming along alright. Such a bummer when that which gets us around in life is on the lamb. Michelle that picture is amazing of you. Oh, ((groans)) I feel so fat! Sunnysea I hope you are doing well my friend. I still have my photo of us in Dr. K's office the day before my banding. That is my last fat picture! Everyone have a great day! SUMMER SUMMER SUMMERTIME.

@ NaturalBeauty Thank you! You took a weight off my shoulders.

I'm so worried about this. I'm glad you posted the topic RJB. I have my first fill next week but my appetite is increasing. I still do not eat as much as I use to which now seems volumous but with each week I can seem my appetite returning. Can't wait for that fill. What happens if the pouch is overstretched and how would you know?

Butch thanks for taking us to church. (I mean that in a positive way). I still believe in the I'm not full theory. When I asked my surgeon "do you know what I mean when I say I don't feel full" and he SOOO got me. So many people have said this to him. (it would reason he would be one to hear it I think). I'm not denying I have the wicked curse of the grazers. All of me fears I will find a hole in the program and run through it one to many times. That fear keeps me ongaurd. Princess Sophie fear of not doing something is what drove me forward. Have you seen those shows where people are bed ridden from their obesity? I KNEW I was only a whisper away from that. Fuelman I'm not passing just yet. I get stares. My stomach SWINGS. It's tightening up but seeing people's eyes go from my eyes to my thighs even in passing bothers me. ..Fuelman..that 80 lb. toolbelt. I can relate.

I think we are all saying the problem never goes away. I went into therapy before my surgery atleast three times to deal with my compulsion to overeat. I do believe I have a physical disorder as in a problem with my body where it does not release the "YOU'RE FULL" chemical that signals the brain not to eat. Science will some day catch up with my theory that there is a segment of the population that doesn't have that FULL sensation. Some are born that way, some develop in like diabetes and some develop it after the onset of something that changes their body chemistry...like pregnancy. Having restriction has made a big difference in my life. Having the band there has given me hope that I'll be healthy again in the future. I KNOW I've tried and I know all the things I have tried to lose weight. Surgery is a strong avenue but people in dire circumstances are willing to do what it takes to obtain a goal. I was.

Your diabetes could be managed to a mild level. I might not consider it a lie because it may be that you were a II. Congratulations on the better state of health no matter how you got there. I took Glucophage (sp?) which "helped" by kicking my butt with "dumping". Yipes that hurt. Good luck.

Morning! I can't tell you how excited I am to meet you all. I am doing my best to be there next Wednesday. My flight leaves Tampa first one out. I should be in Denver by noon. Need to call and see if I am going to the office or to Parker for the fill. (((Someone tell me what that fill with Dr. K will be like))) I have heard Red Robin is a great place for burgers. We don't have any where I live. Anyplace is fine just so we can gather. All of you are such strong women. I love that! Talk soon. Patty

Thanks for this detailed post on a fill. I so need it! My first fill is next week. Now I know what to expect. I thought the needle would be pretty big and I expected the sipping water while getting filled. The other details were helpful.

I think many of us have binge eating issues but different forms of binge eating disorder. I would not eat a bag of Cookies in one sitting but give me a day or two and it would have been mine. Since the surgery, and I haven't had a fill yet, I can only consume half of what I normally would have. I had a "situation" last week with a super thin crust pizza my son made for me at the pizza place he works at. I hadn't eaten a thing all day and he brought this pie home. I ate the cheese of a few pieces but was still hungry. Didn't drink anything, still ate more. I ate three pieces of it and gave the rest to the dog. Meanwhile, about an hour later I got soooo sick as in on the pot. My stomach hurt, I became scared for myself and the intake. I was on the pot for atleast an hour. THAT is what happens to me. I don't know what others are experiencing. I'm sure I will always be a binge eater like an alcoholic is always one. I will always have to be ongaurd. I dare not bring red light foods into my house because I know I am one bite away from it. The band is that angel on my shoulder. It makes bingeing a threat. There is a risk of getting sick and hurting myself. That puts a stop on things for me. Once I have restriction again I believe the urge to eat will fade much like right after I had the surgery. Next.

Hello Friends! I'm alive. I posted on the April Violets but they are in excercise mode. I've been busy with the last days of school, summer coming up on us, WEDDING plans with my daughter who is now gone for two months, and my 24th wedding anniversary. MAL dear, sorry to hear of your scare. Play it by ear. If it was a crisis or emergency you most likely would have been heading to Parker for a fixin'. Hope for good things. Michelle Dino Mini~ My surgery mate, how goes it with you? My restriction is still there but so much less than five weeks ago. Ready for that first fill to be sure. Happening next week. Angie my appt. is at 11:45 on June 7th. Will you be there? Would love to meet some of you while out in Colorado. Red Robin when and what time? What day? Would LOVE to meet up with you all. Let me know. Someone PM me with details.

Hello My Violet Friends! I have not disappeared. I've been away for a bit with end of the year school stuff, WEDDING planning things before my daughter left for two months and a cold that had me under. Tracy you look FABULOUS! Your chin is shrinking! Short and sweet news with me is I lost the # I had gained so I am back to 27 pounds down and off that holding pattern of not budging up or down. Trip to Denver for the first fill is next week! Can't wait. Hello to some new faces out there. Teach I am glad to hear your trip went well and hubby is doing good. Good to read all the news here! Patty

I think everyone has a fear of something. I fear I'm losing my mind (kidding). Lucky for us we live in a time where medicine is advanced. The benefits outweigh the risks.

Michelle the saga of your son is something I find amusing. My 21 year old put us through the wringer. Beyond his pizza delivery mishap where he stopped to double check the address then made the left turn without double checking. BAMMO Batman. He is fine but was so shookup. The other guy felt more sorry for him than anything. Hope we can get together when I hit Denver. I'll post my flight info when I get it. My sister is booking the flight for me as she is a flight attendent. To all, I will write more in the morning. I'm drafting my daughter's engagement annoucement for the newspapers. YAY! Take care.

Angie..yipes!! Glad everyone is Okay. Cars can be replaced, people can't. About that fill. I just read on another post that the fill takes even up to a couple of weeks to kick in for some folks. Give it a few and then if you still don't feel full, call Dr. K's office. Mal, no creamy soups. Made me sick. Here is what I ate: Fruitcicles frozen popcicles, Propel Fitness water in Kiwi-Strawberry (love it), carry-out french onion soup minus the cheese and bread, chinese vegetable minus the vegetables, won-ton minus the won ton, Cozy Shack brand chocolate pudding after the third day (it's fat free). Think fat free. here is my email addy: handjive1228@yahoo.com

The emotions of food and the odd habits we have are coming out in many posts. On another thread, we were talking about the oddity of how we eat. For me the food cannot touch on the plate. I can only eat one thing at a time. I eat counterclockwise. Nothing runny or soupy can touch anything else on the plate. And here you are talking about volume even before you begin, another oddity that we experience. My thing was to watch the food still left. Will someone get that last piece? What about the one that looks exactly the way I prefer to have mine cooked even though I still have one on my plate? Yeah. Been there and still coping. I can encourage you by saying restriction and that feeling of not being hungry goes a long way. What team of doctors that came together to develop this band had me in mine! I will be forever thankful.

Thank you to all of you who posted your experience here. That is half the journey for me and the questions I have. I had restriction after surgery for two to three weeks. Then boom, one morning I woke up with a roaring hunger. The grand thing is I eat nothing close to my old ways. My first fill will be June 7th. I'll let you know how it goes.