So happy to join you!

[Margie Smith 0]

I had lap band surgery on July 6th and have had two fills so far. My surgeon is Dr. Ramzi Alami at the South San Francisco Kaiser Hospital in California and he is awesome!!!! I have lost around 40 pounds since this journey began back when my primary care doc referred me for the lap band last mid-February. My initial orientation appointment/class was in April. I now have 65 pounds to go. The band has been quite the adventure and I am thrilled with this new "tool". It has been quite a learning experience. I have good days and very occasionally the "barfy" days, but tje band continues to be an extremely positive choice. I am eagerly looking forward to when my fills hit the "sweet spot", when I get it all the way through my head that I have to eat slowly and chew, chew, chew, and to stop occasionally lusting after foods that are best ignored. I am amazed that before the lap band, that I didn't really understand the concept of being full and stopping eating if food still tasted good. This sensation of fullness being uncomfortable is new and I look forward to time being a friend with all the physical and emotional challenges that I am learning to live with and find joy in so many positive changes. Life IS good!!!! :whoo:

[justwaitin2b 0]

thanx for sharing Margie, it is great for us waiting, to hear your success - keep up the great effort, and keep posting. Cheers from Karen in Australia............

[Vicki J 0]

Margie - I am so glad to finally hear from someone who has gotten their band from SSF. I am to meet with Dr. Alami on October 23rd. I started my journey in April with the referral and orientation on June 6th. They are so overwhelmed there now. You seem pleased with the surgery and the surgeon. I'm happy to hear that. Did you get the new band? How full did they fill you during the first couple of fills?

I am hoping that I can get some of the fills on Saturdays but I realize that might just be a pipe dream. It sounds like I won't get the band until sometime in January. But I've been following their plan since orientation and have already lost 48 pounds. Hopefully by December I will have lost over 60 and be half way down.

Any tips that you can give me for getting through the system faster, please let me know. Otherwise, I'll just keep doing what I'm doing and hoping that I have a banded future.

[Wendell Edwards 73]

I had lap band surgery on July 6th and have had two fills so far. My surgeon is Dr. Ramzi Alami at the South San Francisco Kaiser Hospital in California and he is awesome!!!! I have lost around 40 pounds since this journey began back when my primary care doc referred me for the lap band last mid-February. My initial orientation appointment/class was in April. I now have 65 pounds to go. The band has been quite the adventure and I am thrilled with this new "tool". It has been quite a learning experience. I have good days and very occasionally the "barfy" days, but tje band continues to be an extremely positive choice. I am eagerly looking forward to when my fills hit the "sweet spot", when I get it all the way through my head that I have to eat slowly and chew, chew, chew, and to stop occasionally lusting after foods that are best ignored. I am amazed that before the lap band, that I didn't really understand the concept of being full and stopping eating if food still tasted good. This sensation of fullness being uncomfortable is new and I look forward to time being a friend with all the physical and emotional challenges that I am learning to live with and find joy in so many positive changes. Life IS good!!!! :whoo:

Awesome loss!

Welcome!

[gagabutton 0]

Margie, I also am with Dr. Alami, I had my orientation on May 29th, I have an appt. with dr. alami on Oct 2 and hopefully he will schedule a date then, please email me, I would love to talk and ask questions of you. gagabutton@yahoo.com

[Vicki J 0]

I would also like to keep in touch with the both of you. Maybe we should start a Dr. Alami thread. LOL

[lorid 0]

YOU ROCK LADY! So glad to hear you are doing so well. Isn't this awesome! It is finally really happening--I am losing the weight and for the first time in my life I am certain that I will be successful!

[Vicki J 0]

Yeah, it is great. I was so bummed out because I spent 2 weeks on a plateau looking over the edge hoping to fall off. I finally fell off this week and had one of those big losses. It really made my week. Now if it will just keep going.

I haven't gotten the band yet but I'm sure looking forward to it. I want to make sure that it keeps coming off and that it STAYS OFF! By the time I get through Kaiser's system I'll be over half way there. Oh well, at least it is in my future.

You're doing fabulous too!