VanWho

My stepmother used a lady doctor in Pittsburg and she seemed to like her. I don't know how much she paid for going.

I had a BMI of 34. I don't regret the decision. Since I was paying out of pocket, I went to Mexico for the procedure. But prices here in the Dallas area are dropping fast too. If you are able to get proper support after the surgery or are close to Mexico, I would get it done there and save the money. But I had tried LA Weightloss, Jenny Craig, Medifast, and a hospital gym program. Overall I think you will save money in the long run. I have 15 lbs to go before my first goal of being smaller for my best friend's wedding. I'm a bridesmaid.

When you are up to it, eat something with black beans in it. That solves the problem really quickly, but I am lucky to get two bowl movements a week and I am over two months out.

Mine was sore this last Sunday, I hadn't really noticed it before. I hope it is normal.

I started out with a BMI close to 34 and I had the procedure done. I was self-pay, so I went to Mexico to do it. I payed half of what I would have paid here. Its been one month and I have last nearly 20 pounds. I had a similar experience with dieting prior to surgery. I wasn't so hesitant because my step-mother and sister had it done back in 2007. My step-mother had a similar BMI and within a year she looked great. The surgery isn't bad, it just is uncomfortable afterwards. It was my first surgery ever. Good luck with your decision. Vanessa

I had my surgery in Mexico last month and the hospital is clean, the staff are efficient, and all of the nurses kept telling me I looked 10 years younger. Make sure the hospital transports you from the airport to Mexico and don't dress like you have a lot of money. But I felt perfectly safe inside while traveling to Tijuana, and my 60 year old mother did too. Plus, the hospital had a room safe to put my passport in. The worse part is sometimes the nurses cannot speak English. But they do great with hand signals. Actually the nurses are some of the best I have seen period. I have small blood vessels and it is very difficult to draw blood or place an i.v. The were patient enough to find the right vein and I did not bleed out once. It is heredity and I have seen my father and grandmother bleed out multiple times for one i.v. and many unnecessary pokes here in the US. Even my mother was impressed. But you shouldn't go out by yourself at night, and always stay alert anywhere you travel. Vanessa

Congratulations, I look forward to when I can by bottoms in the Ann Taylor store instead of online. They don't sell size 16 in their stores. Actually, I don't need to, I have plenty from the last time I was a size 10, 12, and 14. Actually I have organized my too small bottoms.

Hi, I am three weeks post-op too. I have been having a hard time getting my Water in. My post-op diet moves a little differently. This Wednesday I start on a relatively normal diet. I get my Protein in, but my fat intake is too high. I have been eating a lot of egg dishes. I tried chicken yesterday evening, but I shouldn't have worked to reduce the fat. My doctor specified mushy/soft food on the third week. I went for soft foods. I ordered a cookbook for post-op and found a good website for recipes. http://www.lap-band-surgery-site.com/weight-loss-surgery-recipes.html I haven't vomited yet, but I have gotten sore from eating. Actually I have been doing pretty well and have not had a lot of pain. I can sleep on my side now. I am constipated. Its been three or four days. This is what I am eating today, Breakfast: Skim Milk w/ 2 shots of espresso and sugar free vanilla syrup, Protein shake, probiotic yogurt. Lunch: 1/2 half of crab cake, spinach Dinner: Chicken Parmesan I also got my surgery done in Mexico too. I am keeping up with it all in a food journal on my iphone. Good luck to the both of us.

I wan banded on 12/21, I went back the following week. I felt rundown and weak at work the first week back. I only worked half days. I went to work the following week and felt fine.

Hi Jordyn, Thanks for the encouragement. I am hoping to lose 50 pounds by Memorial Day Weekend. My best friend is getting married, I'm a bridesmaid, and I want to look at the pictures without wincing. I think that I can do it. I will sure try. I am not ready to start actual exercising. I was going to start after my first fill. But I have been taking my dog for half an hour walks around the neighborhood. Which part of Dallas? I live in East Dallas. Have a nice day.

Hi, I was banded on 12/21 and is there anybody out there from Dallas? I would like to know other Bandsters in my community. Its going well so far and I have lost well. Only complaint is lack of energy. This is a great present to myself and I hope to do it justice. Happy New Year! Vanessa

My resolution is put more effort in my appearance. I haven't worn makeup in a while and I might even start wearing contacts again. I need to have more pride in my appearance. I have always coasted on natural good lucks, but they kind of went away with my waste size. And to keep a cleaner house. And lose my excess weight. Actually my list is quite long, but I think I am on the right track. Good luck everybody.

I was banded on the 21st and the biggest problem I have is coughing. I also feel run down too. I went to work this last Wednesday and Thursday and left because lack of energy. I think a lot of it had to do with dehydration too. I start mushies this Wednesday along with cheese dishes. The liquid diet hasn't been that bad, this week I had opaque liquids and oatmeal. I am concerned about losing weight too fast. At this rate I should be 20 pounds down in a month. Even though that is one quarter of my goal, I don't want too much skin left over. Plus its bad on your liver to lose weight to quickly. I like butternut squash Soup and red pepper and tomato soup with lowfat sour cream. After a week of apple juice and Jello, these were quite tasty. I found a website with some interesting recipes I will try next Wednesday: www.lap-band-surgery-site.com/weight-loss-surgery-recipes.html Good luck with you band.

Good LucK!

Lynn, The fat that you have lost all the weight and gained it back will make you an excellent candidate. The surgery is not that bad. The worse part is the anticipation. I was banded The 21st, the biggest problem I have now is a total lack of energy from being on a liquid diet. As for the why I eat to cope, I haven't figured out either. I plan to see a therapist. I am very even-tempered and I am excellent in a crisis. But that also means that I don't deal with my emotions when they are happening to me. Biology also plays a part of this too. I think the band will help, and you will need to find new positive ways of coping. Vanessa

I just have had my surgery. I talked to my family practice doctor today and he has prescribed the smallest size of concerta for me. I was on the 36 mg but now I am on the 18 mg. He will double the prescription for me to equal my regular dose. I haven't tried it yet, I was going to weight until after the holidays until I actually started on some food.

My best friend's father had not seen me in 6 years. I didn't have a weight problem six years ago. Then he told me that he had not realized that I was pretty. He gave me an half an hour lecture that boiled down to you are to smart to be that fat. I know that it came from concern for me, but that was pretty rude. My friend's fiance was there too and that comment was aimed at the both of us.

We are measuring two different things, weight and volume. Volume of food is measured in cups and Fluid ounces. There are 8 fluid ounces (fl oz) in a cup. Fluid ounces are different than regular ounces. Different food have different densities, which is weight divided by volume. There are 16 ounces in one pound. The engineer side of me couldn't resist. Vanessa

Trying Again:)

Just seeing if my ticker is working. V

Had mine Tuesday before last, waiting to go to surgery was the worst part. My dr did not require pre-op diet. I was a self-payer who went to Mexico. Happy New Year and good luck to the both of us. I guess the bright side is I will be able to eat the yearly black-eyed peas for good luck on new year's day. Vanessa

I like Ann Taylor for work wear. I have never had a big stomach area, all of my weight has been evenly distributed with a bias towards my thighs. You can order size 16 and 18 online. They are smaller in the stomach area and the rises don't come to your mid thigh.

None at all. I didn't really Celebrate Christmas with my family this year. They are out of town and I couldn't drive yet. That made it easier. It is the first Christmas I have spent alone, but it wasn't too bad. My brother lives with me and he needs this more than I, it was hard watching him and my mother eat Mexican food and queso right in front of me. Luckily he eats out most of the time so I don't have to watch him eat. I haven't found anything yet. I have an app on my iphone for epicurious.com and typed in pureed. I found a good black been Soup recipe.

I got banded before Christmas and survived! I have lost all of the fluid from the surgery and get to start creamy liquids this Wednesday. Happy New Year!

Hello all, I am new to the site. I am have my surgery this Tuesday in Mexico. I am not really nervous. My step-mother and step-sister had it done about three years ago at the same hospital and it turned out well. Since I have to self-pay, BMI of 34.5, it seemed like a logical conclusion. My weight has been out of control since my senior year in college. I have only been obese the past three years. I am not nervous. I have an amazing skill to compartmentalize everything. I am really good in a crisis. But that is probably why I am obese to begin with. I have heard mostly good things about my doctor. My best friend is getting married Memorial Day Weekend and I am a bridesmaid. I don't want to look at the pictures and just see how fat I am. I don't want to be self-conscience at all. I have already bought the dress, but it has relatively cheap and I can always get a new one. How long did it take to get back to a normal routine? How long should I lay off the caffeine? How is it taking large extended release capsules? Height: 5'7" Age 33 Starting Weight: 214 lbs Goal Weight: 132 lbs Surgery Date: 12/21/2010.