Hello from Texas

[KyrieAlaina 23]

Hi everyone!<br /> <br /> My name is Pam and I just joined this forum today and thought I should introduce myself. I have recently made the personal decision to have lap band surgery and made my first appointment yesterday to go to a personal seminar that the doctor I've chosen holds. My lap band surgeon will be Dr. Garth Davis in Houston, Texas. You may be familiar with him from the learning channel show called "Big Medicine". I've been watching the show for awhile, and my aunt had gastric bypass a year ago and looks like a different person. I have had up and down weight fluctuations all my life, and I am tall (5'9") and people never believe how much I really weigh. I carry most of my weight up front in my belly area. I recently had back surgery and have not been very active at all and I am at my heaviest weight ever. I'll never really be able to do the type of aerobic, vigorous exercises that alot of people do, and I love to cook (and eat too! <img src="http://www.LapBandTalk.com/images/smilies/guess.gif" border="0" alt="" title="Kiss" smilieid="18" class="inlineimg" />). My husband is a chef and we spend alot of time in the kitchen trying different things. I kept telling myself that I just needed to buckle down and lose the weight, but it's not working for me. I'm 40 and married to a wonderful man and there are so many things I still want to experience in life, but I am always tired and uncomfortable from dragging around all this extra weight. It's time to make a change. I am familiar with this surgery, but there are a ton of things I am sure haven't occured to me yet and I decided I should start here with other like minded people who are going or have gone through this already. I am sure I will be posting lots of questions in the future. <br /> Sorry for the long post! Glad to be here though <img src="http://www.LapBandTalk.com/images/smilies/happy.gif" border="0" alt="" title="" smilieid="60" class="inlineimg" />

[pjanes54 0]

[ATTACH]9321[/ATTACH]

and good luck on your journey to a happier, healthier life!

[TerriDoodle 6]

Hi Pam!

Well, don't worry... you'll still enjoy time in the kitchen with your hubby!! I hope you have a great experience with Dr. Davis!

[OregonHolly 0]

Hi Pirick, that's an interesting name! We all share you struggle. What a drag it is to be burdened with extra weight that slows you down and makes your body hurt. Dieting just makes us fatter, because it's not something we can do for life. Sure the band requires some lifestyle changes too (and we all weren't too successful at making those in the past, right?) but many people have "success" stories here after getting banded, even if they'd failed on every diet known to man. We just have to make the decision to be in the "winner" corner. Welcome and glad to meet you! Look forward to your posts :-)

Oh and as you noticed, using the "edit" feature just makes your posts come out in greek, but we could still read yours!

[Iluvharleys 15]

Welcome to LBT from one Texan to another! Good Luck and keep us posted!

[pammycakes 1]

HI Pam from another Pam.

I am from Houston also and will be getting banded on August 8th with Dr. Spivak. I know how you are feeling as Im sure most everyone here does. I am 38 with a younger boyfriend that I need to keep up with and this extra weight isnt helping. Good luck in everything you do.

Pam

[mkh5683 0]

Hello there! Now what do i expect? I dont feel like eating and I had my band done on Monday the 23rd of July?

:help:

[Kat817 19]

Hi Pam , welcome to LBT! We sound like we were built very similarly, I too am 5'9", and carried my weight all in the front! Big belly, big chested....but thin hips & thighs. I still love to cook, and to eat for that matter, I just eat much less. And now I find myslef willing to spend a little more for higher quality since I eat less of it. And I notice more about taste and texture than I used to, with the smaller bites, and extended chewing. Not being hungry all the time, has helped with the binges where I felt out of control, and now I make better choices, but in no way have I given up on eating! I will be 47 next month, and I have more energy than I have in the last decade and a half! I felt old before, but as the weight come off it felt like the years did too!

You sound like this surgery will do great for you!!!!

mkh, congrats on being banded-and welcome to you too! Now you spend the next few weeks healing. You will likely lose weight, but healing is the biggest factor. You still are dealing with internal swelling, and don't feel like eating, which is a GOOD thing! Your stomach cannot have food in it for awhile, so not wanting any makes that easy! Be sure to drink lots, and try to get some Protein in, it will give you increased energy and help you to heal. Look at a nutrition center, like GNC, and they can suggest several options. I used zero carb Isopure drinks, they are clear liquid, and full of Protein. Hang out, read through some threads, and they will help guide you along. Also be sure to thoroughly read through the papers your Dr. probably gave you, they too are full of good info!

Good Luck to you both!!!

Kat

[AggieAuthor 0]

I was banded on 7/26 by Dr. Collier at JourneyLite in Houston. The experience was great, and my recovery has been fairly uneventful. I have been surprised, however, at the growling my stomach makes. It's enough to frighten my puppy! :eek:

Any suggestions for how to survive until I get "real food" would be greatly appreciated!

[elchewtoy 0]

Pirick,

How goes it with Dr Davis? I am just starting out on my journey and thought I would do my research on the doctors. I am consulting with my issuance provider list it seems that I am limited to doctor choices. I was looking at Dr Davis, can you tell me about your experience with him and his staff?

Thank you in advance.

E