Any one in NW WA

[brittu 42]

I went and heard Dr. Gavin Dry speak at Evergreen about plastic surgery for the bariatric patient. I liked him a lot and patients who've used him rave about him. My legs are what care most about -they look like elephant skin legs now. Yikes! I'm going to go with Dr. Dry once I hit my goal weight.

Britt

[phyllser 3]

I went and heard Dr. Gavin Dry speak at Evergreen about plastic surgery for the bariatric patient. I liked him a lot and patients who've used him rave about him. My legs are what care most about -they look like elephant skin legs now. Yikes! I'm going to go with Dr. Dry once I hit my goal weight. Britt

Thanks, Britt! That's the kind of information I was looking for. I can relate to your elephant skin legs! My thighs are so grotesque! Interesting development: I emailed photos to the surgeon in Mexico that I was considering going to. He called me today after looking at the photos and it almost sounds like they scared him away! He highly recommended that I speak to my bariatric surgeon about this because he thinks my legs are so bad that PS could be considered medically necessary and might be covered by my insurance. But I will certainly make a note of this Dr. Dry and consider going to see him. How much more do you have to lose to et to gaol?? I would be so much more able to exercise effectively if I could be rid of all the excess tissue in my thighs... and I worry about how it will impact the outcome of my knee surgery as I need a double total knee replacement.

[brittu 42]

Alas, I now have about 45 to get to goal. I had a problem with my band and gained 45 pounds. I'm going to submit to insurance for my legs although I don't know if Dr. Dry does that. My dermatologist says my skin and is bad enough (repeated infections) that removal is the only option. Pacific Surgical in Olympia now does the cool Lipo and when i was there the other gals were raving about how it shrinks up the skin. That will probably be fine for my stomach but I don't think it will be good enough for my arms and legs.

[alexis14217 1]

I was banded 4 days ago in Mexico by Dr. Beuncourt, he was AMAZING! I was very nervous at first but I am still coming back around I have only had about 10 sips of broth total and little apple sauce since then mostly fluids, I have been taking 1/2 vicodine for pain about twice a day

[fleminld 0]

how is everyone doing? i've been good, battle'g and loosing most of the time with the sweet craving. For some reason past couple months all i can think about and want is sweets. weird. Luckly with going to the gym im still loosing some. Have made my first goal of losing a 100 pounds, now the next goal is to get to the point where i weigh under 200lbs.

what has everyone else been up to?

[phyllser 3]

how is everyone doing? i've been good, battle'g and loosing most of the time with the sweet craving. For some reason past couple months all i can think about and want is sweets. weird. Luckly with going to the gym im still loosing some. Have made my first goal of losing a 100 pounds, now the next goal is to get to the point where i weigh under 200lbs. what has everyone else been up to?

Hi,

You've got to get the sweets completely out of your system and out of your house. I stopped craving them once I did that. If we are out... pot luck or something, and there are sweets available... I may allow myself a couple of bites, but that's all, and half the time... it doesn't even taste good anymore.

Congrats on the 100 # loss!! That's a really big deal! Did you get presents??? I didn't expect that! One of my band friends made me a 100# shirt... has my picture on it with 10 gold stars around it... one for each 10#! Then my mother sent me $100 check... $1 for each pound! One of my sisters sent me a stuffed animal, another sent me a Red Hat Ladies shirt and watch! One of my TOPS friends got me a dozen red roses!! And my neighbor who does beading, made me a beautiful Bracelet. I am spoiled!

My next goal is to get under 200 # also, and I hope to do it by my 2 yr band anniversary date in July. That will be a big deal, too. Heck, it'd been YEARS since I'd been under 300# and 200# is a distant memory! I flew a couple of months ago... and was so delighted not to have to ask for a seat belt extender! I fit in the seat quite nicely and could even put the table down FLAT over my lap!

[bigmons23 0]

I've been doing great. I was banded in Oct 2006. I did well to start and then when I figured out I could eat solid foods, I found ways to defeat my band and myself. I managed to gain back all of my weight plus 25 extra.

I found myself in a deep dark hole. I was using drugs and drinking non-stop. I hated the band. I thought it did not work. I went through a nasty divorce. Got custody of the child. Life seemed unbearable at the time.

I got myself clean from the drugs. Still drink a bit but not nearly as much. I feel that it's in control.

My younger brother managed to loose over 100lbs with diet and exercise. He prompted me to get recommitted to the band.

I went to see Kitty an FillManagementNW. She told my that I was lucky to still have the band after I had abused it so badly. Also, I should thank GOD that I'm still alive.........

That's all it took. I've had a couple of fills and have lost 48.6lbs since January 10th. A group of us in Skagit county started a support group as well.

I feel great! I'm looking forward to seeing the new me develop.

Tim

[phyllser 3]

I've been doing great. I was banded in Oct 2006. I did well to start and then when I figured out I could eat solid foods, I found ways to defeat my band and myself. I managed to gain back all of my weight plus 25 extra.

I found myself in a deep dark hole. I was using drugs and drinking non-stop. I hated the band. I thought it did not work. I went through a nasty divorce. Got custody of the child. Life seemed unbearable at the time.

I got myself clean from the drugs. Still drink a bit but not nearly as much. I feel that it's in control.

My younger brother managed to loose over 100lbs with diet and exercise. He prompted me to get recommitted to the band.

I went to see Kitty an FillManagementNW. She told my that I was lucky to still have the band after I had abused it so badly. Also, I should thank GOD that I'm still alive.........

That's all it took. I've had a couple of fills and have lost 48.6lbs since January 10th. A group of us in Skagit county started a support group as well.

I feel great! I'm looking forward to seeing the new me develop.

Tim

Congrats on getting back on track, Tim!!

That's awesome!

[Jewels68 0]

Great Job Tim...

I know alot of us thought the band was a quick easy fix... But with good judgement we can all do it.

Congrats on those that have lost 100 pounds or are under the 200 mark. I hope to be there soon with you.

[phyllser 3]

Great Job Tim...

I know alot of us thought the band was a quick easy fix... But with good judgement we can all do it.

Congrats on those that have lost 100 pounds or are under the 200 mark. I hope to be there soon with you.

Do you go to a support group anywhere?? There was one meeting at Safeway near the Starbucks stand for a while, but too many times I was the only one who showed up. I think I heard there was one meeting in Lake Stevens area now. Do you know anything about that? That's where I live... near the Albertson's in Lake Stevens.

[neatobandito 0]

Congratulations to those who have continued to find success with their band, and those who have stumbled but found their way back on the right path!

I went through a rough patch (an almost 6 month one), myself, and had a hard time not owning up to it, finding myself spiraling back into old habits. I was beyond frustrated when I realized the time I wasted, and the added progress I could've made. But I got over it and, really, all it does now is make me work that much harder and want it that much more.

I'm coming up on my 1 year anniversary ("surgiversary", if you prefer) on the 17th, and even with the setbacks, have lost almost 80lbs. I finally FEEL healthier and am positive I made the right choice in choosing this tool. I look forward to reaching that goal, stopping to appreciate and Celebrate the mini-victories along the way.

Now, if I could just make it to one of the support groups...! I know a few people who are banded, but differences in lifestyles and scheduling conflicts make it near impossible for us to get together. But I'd love to find a way/time to interact on a more personal level with those who can truly relate to the bandster life.

[fleminld 0]

It is ruff for me to make it to support groups as well. I work graveyard and have to force myself to wake up several hours early to attend. I do enjoy going to interact with others who have had bariatric surgery. There are not to many regulars that attend that have had the band, most are the bypass pacients of the doc's. There are also a group of ladies at work who have had the bypass. I do wish I new more folks with the band that could hang around with and share expierences.

Phyllser

I so agree with the airplane. when i took the plane down to san fran in feb, i loved being able to walk down the aisle foward instead of sideways, being able to put the tray down, and have like 8 -10 inches of belt hanging off the end of seatbelt. It felt so good. I was also alot more comfortable in the small seats. I cant wait until next years trip to compare it to this years.

I do need to get the sweets out of my house or shall i say quit bringing them into it. I do work out 6 days a week at the gym hard, to help balance out the extra calories. I just seem to go thrue these weird cravings. one week chocolate, next Peanut Butter cups, the ice cream, and strangly i wanted avacados this past week, so maybe the sweets is starting to fade again for awhile.

[SkinnyMe206 0]

Hey There!

I didn't see ya at the FW group in March. I wasn't able to make it to this month's meeting. I too had a late work night. I've got great news--Just got my surgery date! June 22nd with Dr. Landers. Don't know too much about him but what little I know sounds good so far. I have to say, I'm a bit jittery and overwhelmed. I've waited for this moment so long...never thought I'd see the day! Hopefully I'll see you at next month's meeting! tc

[Jewels68 0]

Good luck with your surgery. My daughter is having her's April 30th with Dr. Michaelson @ NWWLS.

[fleminld 0]

Hey There!

I didn't see ya at the FW group in March. I wasn't able to make it to this month's meeting. I too had a late work night. I've got great news--Just got my surgery date! June 22nd with Dr. Landers. Don't know too much about him but what little I know sounds good so far. I have to say, I'm a bit jittery and overwhelmed. I've waited for this moment so long...never thought I'd see the day! Hopefully I'll see you at next month's meeting! tc

congrats on gettting the date! Now comes the hard part....waiting for the date to arrive. It felt like forever for mine to arrive. Just start dieting and loosing weight now to shrink the liver..more you loose before the better is what i say.

I had just come back from california in march and gotten a cold so was to sick to come. I am hoping to make it to next months meeting. I cant wait to have more banded folks at the meetings. Most of the time it is just carol and I .