Any one in NW WA

[MerryHearted 20]

Isn't it funny how everyone is built differently? I see people post that they are wearing size 12's at 180 and find it amazing (I wear a 16 at that weight). At 130 I wore a 6/8 top but a 10 bottom due to having a straight figure with no waist -- pants just won't button otherwise. And elastic waistbands were not a big part of my wardrobe when I was thin, nor will they be when I am thin again.

[GrizGirl 0]

Hi All

Just Curious if anybody out here had there surgery through Puget Sound Surgical Clinic & Dr. Peter Billing?

[Anndallei 0]

Dr. Watkins is doing my surgery. My appointment for the psych eval. is with Linda and it will be done on Fri. Sept 2nd before my appointment with Dr Watkins. Whoo Hoo!!

I noticed several people have said "pre-op on Optifast"...is that something we have to go on before surgery? If so, for how long?

Molly...wow, August 31st is almost here! Let us know how your surgery goes! I'm so excited for you!!!

I can hardly wait until my surgery date gets here, and I don't even have one yet!!!!

Thanks for the support all...much appreciated. I just can't fully express how excited I am about having this surgery done...I know you all can relate!!!!

[Guest Ditzy*Bell]

New here.... near Olympia...have Dr. Neal for surgeon.... banded 7/22/05

[Maggiemay 0]

I was banded in Monterrey, Mexico on July 16, 2005 by Dr Arturo Rodriguez. . .

it was a good experience. . . and now, 6 weeks out, I am 39 pounds down. . .

what an exciting journey!

I am getting rid of diabetes, sleep apnea, hypertension. . . not to mention the FAT!!!!

Sometimes I feel like I have restriction, sometimes not. . . but as long as I am losing pounds and my body is changing shape. . .I was told that I don't need a fill.

Mexico. . . $8,000, surgery at a private hospital (very nice) two nights at the Hilton Garden Inn in Monterrey, all room service (except the 'tip' part. . .cheap) and transportation in Mexico. . . Had to pay for airline tickets. . .but well worth the cost. . .

up and out of bed 15 minutes after getting back to my room, walking the halls within 3 hours of back to room, mall shopping for almost 2 hours the next day. . .

I'd do it again in an instant!

[MerryHearted 20]

Hey DVSABoss -- how'd the psych and surgeon consults go today?

[Anndallei 0]

It went great! My surgery will be on September 13th at 1:15 pm. Thankfully, I get to have it at NWWLS (instead of the hospital) as the doc doesn't feel I will have any problems what-so-ever!!! yea! I am so excited!!! I'm on Optifast until surgery day which is fine with me....I am sooo ready for this! They want me to try to lose 20 pounds by then if possible....I will try my darndest!

Didn't you just have your surgery? I thought it was this week (Sept. 31st) How'd it go? How are you doing?

[MerryHearted 20]

Yep, my surgery was on Wed at Evergreen -- the staff was super nice there from start to finish. I'm still feeling like I got run over by a large truck, but it's slowly getting better.

Congrats on having a surgery date and starting the pre-op diet. 20 lbs in a week and a half is going to be a challenge -- best wishes and hang in there!

At least with only a week and a half left, the waiting torture is minimal.

[ickytazz 0]

I was banded yesterday morning by Dr Watkins at Northwest Weight Loss Surgery Center. I feel good, except for the feeling of doing 1000 situps. I will be going to the support groups at the center on the 2nd monday of the month.

I can not be happier that i did the surgery, with i had done it years ago.

Vicky

[ickytazz 0]

I had my surgery yesterday with Dr Watkins at NWWLS and feel great. My abdomin feels like i did 1000 situps but its not a bad feeling.

When i spoke with the counselors about what weight i would be good at, i said i want to be at 150, 2 of them said 180 for my 5"5"" body structure. They said the same, try it on and then change your goal. I want to shop in the Normal department store. I love that the support groups are so close, i have gone to a few before my surgery and will be going on monday too.

Yesterday my diet consisted of chicken broth, fruit pops, 1 pudding and then i has some cracked red peper Soup from Trader Joes. Today i have had chicken broth and now drining a fruit smoothie with Protein Powder.< /p>

Make sure you bring a few candies to suck on after surgery, your mouth gets sooo dry.

I can not wait to go shopping at my goal, i will look a bit frumpy for a while as my work clothes, daily clothes and dogshow clothes are all different.

Good luck, you will be soooo happy.

Vicky

Dr. Watkins is doing my surgery. My appointment for the psych eval. is with Linda and it will be done on Fri. Sept 2nd before my appointment with Dr Watkins. Whoo Hoo!!

I noticed several people have said "pre-op on Optifast"...is that something we have to go on before surgery? If so, for how long?

Molly...wow, August 31st is almost here! Let us know how your surgery goes! I'm so excited for you!!!

I can hardly wait until my surgery date gets here, and I don't even have one yet!!!!

Thanks for the support all...much appreciated. I just can't fully express how excited I am about having this surgery done...I know you all can relate!!!!

[Anndallei 0]

I'm still feeling like I got run over by a large truck, but it's slowly getting better.

Make sure you bring a few candies to suck on after surgery, your mouth gets sooo dry.

Thanks for the helpful input! It's nice to know what to expect.

I have three more days to go!!! My Optifast diet is going well...I weighed in at my pre-op appointment and found out that I had lost 12 pounds (in 8 days) I'm hoping to lose another 8 pounds by Tuesday. I'm getting really excited...not scared nor do I have any uncertainties. I am sooooo ready!!!

Hey all you NW WA banders, keep me posted on how you're doing...we're all in this together...I honestly believe we've made one of the smartest moves in our lives!!! Life can only get better!!

[MerryHearted 20]

Goal weights are tricky -- I really want to be at my "ideal" weight of 130 (I'm almost 5'6") and they said to start with a goal weight of 150 -- that will put me in my normal BMI range and I can refine my goal when I get there.

For now, I've set up mini goals: Get to my wedding weight (248), then under 200, then back to where I was when I met my DH, 186. THEN I'll aim for that 150.

[ickytazz 0]

I am on day 3, and have lost 4 pounds. I feel great I went shopping yesterday and got some more Soups, remember any Soup you can put in the blender and add Water too to make it liquid. I made some cabbage hamburger soup with tomato's last night, blended it up and it was sooo good. I also have the flavored water by aquafina and the crystal light on the go's to put in regular water. Im going to a birthday party tomorrow and stopping and getting a Protein Shake smoothie for my piece of cake. I find sleeping on my back hard, so i sleep on my side/stomach with a pillow on the right side of me. I no longer feel like i have do a 1000 sit ups, maybe just 500 today. I feel tight when i stand up from sitting.

I weighed in before surgery at 337, i cant wait to go to the support group on Monday and see what i weigh. I keep saying, i want to get to 180 and that for me is a size 14, well now im thinking i will change it when i get their to be a size 10-12ish.

Vicky

I have three more days to go!!! My Optifast diet is going well...I weighed in at my pre-op appointment and found out that I had lost 12 pounds (in 8 days) I'm hoping to lose another 8 pounds by Tuesday. I'm getting really excited...not scared nor do I have any uncertainties. I am sooooo ready!!!

Hey all you NW WA banders, keep me posted on how you're doing...we're all in this together...I honestly believe we've made one of the smartest moves in our lives!!! Life can only get better!!

[Anndallei 0]

Good news!!!! My surgery time got moved up from 1:15 pm to 7:00 am tomorrow morning! I'm drinking my last Optifast of the night before heading to bed so I can get up at 4:00 am to get to Everett by 6:00 am. Whooppeeeeee!!! Wish me luck!

[vinesqueen 2]

Sending you warm and healing thoughts DVSABoss!

Both my DH and I were both banded by Dr Watkins