ducati bonnie

Yes, yes, yes!! Actually, my clinic has monthly meetings and invites speakers. One of the most interesting was from a personal trainer who offered specialized and modified exercises (like from a chair instead of the floor, etc) and equipment (that he designed himself (mostly just extensions to machines, etc) and the other was from a yoga instructor specializing in modified yoga for 'round bodies'--also from a chair--because many obese folk have knee problems and can't kneel. My guess is if you contact the local Bariatric clinics with a viable exercise plan and modifications to suit the patients/client as they are now and as they lose weight, you will be welcomed with open arms. Go!! Ducati Bonnie

Obesity Law and Advocacy Center Walt Lindstrom (I think that's his name) specializes in Obesity Law and insurance and related cases. It's free to contact him. He is a lap-band patient himself. www.obesitylaw.com Best to you! Ducati Bonnie

There are 10 clinics with 30 patients each in the US, so that's 300 patients in this study. I can't believe no one besides me is in it on this forum. So, allow me to try my introduction again: Banded 2/12/2008. In Low BMI (below 40) Research Study to get the Lap-band® approved by the FDA for treatment of Obesity, not only Morbid Obesity. I did very well the first year, losing nearly all my weight. I suffered a serious set back when I crashed my motorcycle June 10, 2009 and was injured badly enough to lose my job (broken bones, bruising, etc--full race leathers saved me from the real damage). Then, I went back to work, got back on the bikes. Things were good for awhile. Then April of this year had to have gall bladder surgery. Post op gall bladder surgery, I have gained back 20+ pounds and am still fighting to find the 'sweet spot' for a fill that will allow me to eat gall bladder friendly foods (as I did not recover from the gastric distress associated with it and it looks like I may not), but still have some hunger satiety. And again, I lost my job due to having to be out so long with the post op effects/complications of the gall bladder surgery--which are still going on nearly 4 months post op. So, I am not a 'success' story, but I am not a 'failure' either. I'm just a human being trying to make a difference in how the medical community sees the LAP-BAND® and how I can use it to put my obesity into remission for good. 217 highest 198 day of surgery 165 now 145 lowest 130 goal Ducati Bonnie Custer, WA Yeah, I know the bike is a Suzuki SV650S. I don't ride my Ducati on the track.

1. loose skin--how much worse is that that fat, stretched out skin? **Loose skin looks better than rolls of fat. Bless the body shaper!! 2. my abusive relationship with food. it has been a long road but the things that I have to give up are not really good for me anyway. I have done a lot of planning for this part. I am as ready as I can be for this. **Yep. It's not all about what you're eating, but what's eating you. Every bandster battles this war. 3. More wrinkles, I assume some are hiding under here;-). **Yep. "Fat Don't Crack", but again, cheekbones and a shapely face with a little chin dangle is acceptable to me. If not, there are plastic procedures available. 4. The pain of surgery and recovery. **This surgery is not painful and the recovery is easy (unless it has to be done open for some reason). I was out the same day. Only took pain meds for a few days. The surgical pain is minor. There is residual pain in the left shoulder from the stretching of the diaphragm during surgery--but I would classify it as 'discomfort' and not 'pain'. Get Gas-X strips to help your body handle the gas from the CO2 they put into the abdominal cavity to inflate it. Again, this is 'discomfort' and not 'pain'--at least in my case. Recovery is a snap--unless you have complications or co-morbidities that complicate things. Your doctor should be able to tell you realistically what to expect. Here are some things that I don't know if I can deal with: 1. hair loss- I have already lost so much hair from Metformin (anti-diabetic drug). I know this sounds vain but I just cannot go bald here! **Most hair loss is from poor nutrition. Get your nutrients and take your Vitamins. We carry a lot of toxins in our fat too, so as we lose, we are de-toxing from that bad fat too. I have not heard of any bandster having permanent hair loss, but that doesn't mean it can't happen. Again, I don't know your exact situation. Make sure you have a good GP as well as your band doctor so you can get all these issues taken care of. 2. The gas!!! I am extremely conservative about this issue. I cannot be walking around passing gas all the time for the rest of my life or even the next year. I just starting going back to school and I am horrified enough being the fat, old girl in class with a bunch of 20 year olds! I cannot be the fat, old girl who passes gas in class!!! I just cannot. **What gave you the idea you'd be a 'gassy gal'? That's easily controlled with food choice, Gas-X strips and Tums or Gaviscon. No problem. :thumbup: 3. The obsession that seems to come with surgery. I don't want to weigh myself everyday and worry that I am able to eat and not losing enough weight. I just don't want this to define me. I realize it will from now until a while after surgery but I just don't want to obsess about it all the time. **Ah, the black box of doom. Well, I weigh myself and write it down on a calendar every day. Sometimes I lose, sometimes I stay the same, sometimes I gain. I think in the beginning we substitute the obsession of weighing and measuring both ourselves and our food and then we start to get comfortable. YMMV. I *still* have to keep myself accountable every day. Some folks don't weigh but guide with clothing size or measurements. You'll find something that makes you comfortable. I know this can be different for everyone but I am seriously considering cancelling the surgery because why don't I just eat less and exercise to lose weight. Yeah, I know, I have been doing that for 10 years without success and I have 3 small children who need a healthy, active mommy that will be around as long as she can be. I am just FREAKING OUT!! **Chilly sweetie! You'll be fine. The LAP-BAND® takes the edge off your hunger and you will no longer obsess about food. In fact, for the first time in your life, you may even forget to eat. I know, I didn't believe it until it happened to me either. This is also why it's adjustable. It's not a 'set it and forget it' device. It adjusts with us and is always there for us. CAN SOMEONE TALK ME OFF THE LEDGE??? I have a support system but not one that understands fully what I am going through. **Off the ledge now girlfriend!! You'll do great. Take care and be well. Ducati Bonnie

When I landed in the local ER after my motorcycle crash last summer, my band was *tight* from the trauma of broken bones and stress. The idiots in the ER tried to give me frigging Pepto Bismol as I told them I was banded and was complaining that I barely swallow my own spit, but I felt nauseated. I immediately got on my cel phone and called my band surgeon. I finally got an anti-nausea med that melted in my mouth and was OK after he told me to tell them what to give me. He said if necessary he'd walk them through the process. My point being that if trained medical ER staff aren't familiar and proficient with this process, what makes one think one can do it ones' self? Crazy talk. If you want to be a fill nurse, then get trained as a fill nurse and make it your new career. Don't go giving shite advice on a forum. Oh, and if you don't use huber needles on your port, it lessens the ability of the membrane to seal as you are cutting a "V" shape flap out of it. All the clinic staff has to do is X-ray or fluoro the port and see the 'whisker' like appearance left by the hypodermic needle versus the huber. There are new huber needles that look a lot like hypos, but aren't. I strongly suspect the RN suggesting her doctor is using a hypo *is* mistaken and is setting herself up for a leak, infection or a piece of the silicone membrane floating around in her abdomen. Pass, thank you. Be well. Ducati Bonnie

//Just a little worried that either I will be paying for something I can't use or will be unable to experience part of the magic.// One of the first things you quickly get over as a bandster is that food has no magic. It is nutrition, pure and simple. When we get extra, it's either 'waist' or 'waste' and it all goes to crap in the morning. <grin> So, that said, it's an all-inclusive vacation. Enjoy the entire experience. Food still tastes pretty good (though you will find your tastes change) and it will still be part of the experience you can share with your family. I personally feel a great victory when I eat what I want from a plate of food and toss the rest. I used to bring food home for the dog and I ended up with a fat dog. My advice is to just let it go. Your mind set will truly change once banded and it won't be an issue. Take care and be well. Ducati Bonnie

Tums (for the Calcium too) and Gas-X strips are very band friendly. I eat the Tums with Fred or Wilma, my Vitamin D 'pearl' and 4 chewable baby aspirin every day. While I don't and didn't have the IBS symptoms you have, I have post gall bladder bile problems which can make my life highly uncomfortable (in the opposite way--as in *never* trust a fart--LOL). Take care and be well. I hope this helps. I know it can't hurt. Ducati Bonnie

That all depends on what size you wear now. When I was a 20, it took 20 pounds to get to an 18 and another 20 to get to a 16. Then it was 15 to get to a 14 and another 15 to a 12. Now it's about 10 pounds per dress size. I'm a 10 and it will take me 10 pounds to get into an 8. After that, it'll probably be about 7 to get into a 6 and hopefully another 7 to see a 4. My lowest size so far was a 6, but I didn't hold it. I crept back up to a 10 after having gall bladder surgery and an unfill, blah, blah. YMMV Ducati Bonnie

I think it is important to formulate a plan with your clinic for at least a 1 year follow up. If that includes out of pocket expenses, then so be it. Beats the hell out of staying fat. <snort> Expect to see your surgeon 7-10 days post op (barring complications) to check incisions and see that you are doing OK with your post op instructions. Usually, the first fill won't happen until you are healed and on solid foods (clinics vary in how this is handled). Fills also vary how they are done, and with that, so will costs. Under fluoroscopy or ultra sound, they tend to run around 3 franklins. A good fill nurse can palpate the port and do it without seeing it for a franklin or more less. Perhaps this is a question to ask the clinic--how they do fills and what is their plan for your first year? There are 'fill centers' across the US, but unless you had your surgery out of the country, or have moved away from your clinic, or have a bad relationship with your clinic, my advice is to stick with your clinic's protocol and pay the out of pocket expenses. You got the surgery, that's $17K, now the rest is follow up. The band is not a 'set it and forget it' device. You *will* require a lot of after care especially in the first year. But, you will be saving a lot of money on the food you won't be eating, so the expenses tend to work themselves out. Take care. Best to you. Ducati Bonnie

Hi, I'm Bonnie and I was banded 2/12/2008. I am taking part in a Low BMI Research Study for 3 years. Are there any other of the Low BMI patients on this forum? Like other bandsters, I have had my downs and ups. Mostly down, but I have 2 major set backs. A motorcycle crash last summer that left me unable to exercise or ride for several months and then recently gall bladder surgery, which I have yet to fully recover (that was in April). Both times, since I work part time, I lost my job. Anyway, I'm particularly interested in hearing from other Low BMI study patients, but of course will fully participate in this forum. Bonnie