Alexandra

That item doesn't mention her banding at all, as far as I could tell.

Oh my lord, girl, what a life you are living!! That sounds incredible and will be absolutely life-changing. You're amazingly courageous! God. It's so cool that there are people who can do stuff like this so people like me can read about it and wish. In my next life I'm going to do what I threatened to do as a teenager and join the Peace Corps. Those pics are cool. The bars on the windows and doors remind me of my garden apartment in Queens, NY.

Leener, you are indeed in good hands with Dr. A and we are all here rooting for you. Tell him that Alex and Ali said he'd better take extra care with you!! :evil: Good luck, lady, and remember that stress is self-fulfilling in people with panic disorders. Just leave it all in a box by your door when you leave in the morning. Don't take it with you. You'll be home before you know it, and banded!! :)

Yah, well supposedly that was the whole point of the Spotlight Health site; there were message boards there that Ann and Carnie were supposed to visit. They didn't, of course, but that's what the site originally promised.

I think you get used to it or find a slightly different position to accommodate the port. I'm definitely aware of it at times like that, but it's not pain at all.

Hey Porcln, welcome back! Good to hear things are going well--good luck with that custody hearing. Fingers crossed that everything comes out the way you want it. Stay strong--it will all be over soon. How cool to have a band buddy at work! I'm sure you will bring a lot of support to one another.

Ann Wilson is the lead singer of the rock band Heart, and was for a while a paid spokesperson for the lapband. She had it done and talked about it on various news outlets back in 2002, and lost about 60 lbs at last mention. The main website that had been touting her (and Carnie Wilson, for the RNY) was Spotlight Health, which disappeared with no explanation some time ago. (Anyone have any information on that?) So it's been a while since there's been any news on Ann Wilson's banding journey, and I'm very interested to hear she had it removed. More info!!

Leener, where did you hear that? Did she have something else done instead or just have it removed? I'd love to hear more if you can point me to some source. BTW, GOOD LUCK TOMORROW!! :bounce:

Glad to hear the removal went well, Elizabeth! Hope your recovery is quick and totally uneventful.

The answer is that portion control and dieting DO work, but can you maintain that yourself for the rest of your life? If your history is anything like mine, the clear answer is no. Dieting works only while you're doing it. The band keeps you doing it. Period.

Congratulations!! It's such a big thing to realize that the stores and catalogs we used to depend on are no longer appropriate. I just threw out my Silhouettes catalog because even their smallest size would have been on the large side for me. I used to LOVE Silhouettes!! Welcone to scary world of "normal" sizes!

Fitday.com is probably the most popular website to do this stuff on, and lots of us here swear by it. I purchased the desktop version and LOVE IT. It's a lot more flexible than the website version, as well as faster (of course). Pretty much anything you might ever want to track is trackable in FitdayPC, and it's easy to learn and use. I can't recommend it highly enough.

Lots of good thoughts for crystal-clear answers for our Crystal!! Peace to you and yours, sweetie. Sounds like there's a lot going on. Big hugs!!

So glad to hear it, Sammee!! Fingers crossed that everything works out fine. Take care--we're thinking of you! :biggrin1:

As they say, the band is a fickle bitch. We have all experienced changing restriction from day to day, indeed, but a barium test is always a good idea. Good luck!!

Insanity, indeed! My eyes hurt...

Consider it closed.

That is indeed wonderful news, Kathy!! Just think about your poor, healing lungs and what they've been through every time you think about wanting a cigarette. I'd think that would be pretty powerful motivation to stay away from the death sticks.

Kelly!! Bandsister!! Wow, this is totally eerie--I'm expecting to be told the same thing when I go in for an endoscopy this week. BIG HUGS TO YOU! I hope and pray the unfill gets things back into place for you. :hug: :hug: If everything was hunky-dory back then, isn't it surprising that just one PB would make it slip? What did your doctor have to say about that? Sheesh, I'm in trouble. :omg:

Karen, aren't you still supposed to be on liquids?!? Yikes! Stay far away from the Pop Tarts--lesson learned!!

Good for you, Magsi!! I was going to post my own sob story of my first marriage (to a guy like your ex) but now I don't have to. You did it!! Now get ready to meet a REAL man. :bounce:

I started with fitday.com but downloaded their desktop program, called FitdayPC. It's only $20 for fitday.com users, and it's WORTH EVERY PENNY. It does a lot the online version can't do, and makes it much more pleasant to track my intake (read: I do it more often). The best feature of FitdayPC is that you can enter and save custom foods, either by recipe, nutrition label info, or ingredients. I have custom foods called things like "turkey sandwich lunch." Online you had to enter all the items individually, every time. It has a lot more functionality in general, lots that I don't even use. I highly recommend it!!

Fingers crossed that it heals itself, Sammee!! Thank goodness it wasn't anything worse and can be repaired. Now it's my turn...endoscopy scheduled for the 16th will tell me what's going on inside. :nervous

Sammee, I just want to send you hugs and good wishes for your appointment with the doctor. I'm seeing a gastroenterologist tonight to find out why I suddenly have recurring reflux along with an ulcer-type pain and frequent heartburn. And I've vomited in the last couple of weeks, first thing in the a.m., too. So I know exactly how you feel. Good luck to both of us!! :hug:

PB= productive burp (bad name, but there it is). I don't think you're doing anything wrong, you're too tight! An unfill should fix you right up. Good luck!!