karen

Macysgranny! Wow! You have done fantastic! Way to go! QuasiTova: Oh, Oh, I understand why you have to wait until November...but boy I would be impatient! I was impatient (inside) having to wait 3 weeks! I just can't wait! Good luck!

Hi Ben! Lucky you! You are just a few days away! While you are at the surgery center, I will be getting my blood drawn for my surgery the next week! Good luck and keep in touch and let us know how you do! Karen

You might want to check on fill centers USA, to see if there are any close to you. There are very few doctors who will fill patients banded in Mexico. You also could try called lapband solutions and see if they have a referral name for you. Good luck!

Their entire staff is awesome!! I thought fills were easy, I don't remember them hurting at all.

I'm in Keller also. I started with AIGB(lapband solutions) but they had my insurance info wrong. Because I had already had a band, they wanted me to have a consult with my doctor first. When at that appt, I talked to the insurance lady, so agreed about my insurance, that "fast tracked me"!! Good luck!!

O2BSlim! I am being banded my Dr. Ferrara on Oct 23rd!! I am so excited! Have you had your pre-op yet? Karen

Hmmmm Lisa's post means....... <grin> You can bring anything..as in the way of food or alcohol...and nothing....as in no swimsuits allowed!!!!!!!!!!! okay I am joking... swimsuits are allowed!! I hope I am not on call so I can drink with you all this year! Last year I had to be "good" Can't wait to see you all!!! Karen

:alien Lisa made me do this! Here is my new dooooooooo!!!

Hi Babs, Vera and Donali! Hope all is great with you!!!! Babs - I am flying out of town on the 5th, will return the next day. I told Lisa we need to shoot for something then if it will work out!!!!!!!!! tmarie, I had my band removed Nov. 18th because of erosion.... so I am now bandless Donali - you inspire me, I have to tell you I have really gone through a grief period and have withdrawn from all of my support groups because I feel as I dont' belong there... I read your post on the thread "Donali's Secrets of Success" and found you to be an inspiration!! Karen

DANG!! Lisa you are a tough cookie!! Hi Megan! Hi Leatha! How are you guys doing?!! Thank you for asking about me... oh hum....well as you probably know..my band was removed November 18th... very sad day... anyway... I am hanging in there... gained 5...lost 5..gained it back.. right now I am PMSing...so I have the 5 on! It's a struggle, but it all will work out. I need to get my a$$ in gear and start working out more!!!!! I hope you all are doing great!!!! hugs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Karen

Well I am coming out of lurking mode. I am outraged.... I am one of the erosion victims.... my surgeon Dr. Lopez. My band was removed a week ago and I am mourning the loss of it. I was told "The band has a 1% erosion rate internationally, if a particular surgeon has a higher rate, it is due to technique" I believe that Dr. Lopez has flawed technique. I have talked to Craig Arthur at Inamed and am planning on writing more letters. I have been a model bandster since I was banded and am less than 10 lbs from goal weight. I have eaten like a bandsters, I have exercised appropriately and I have followed every "bandster rule" I haven't even had a sip of a carbonated drink. This is not a coincidence.... its much more. I have not changed my signature line...but will soon... take care all my beautiful bandster friends!

Babs- HI! I could have wrote this post! However I have not seen the scale move in about 2 months...or more.. I don't know I don't keep track anymore. I have seen my body compacting and remolding. I decided to throw out the numbers on the scale... seriously... I am aiming for a specific size. (<grin> notice I say throw out the numbers...not the scale <grin>) I think that we become lax in our habits because it starts to grow old, it's not a new novelty anymore....you know what you can eat, you know how to eat, you know what you can "get away with" and what you can't! In my mind if I never lost another pound, or if I never got into the size of jeans I want to be in, I am still a success story.. because I feel healthier, I look healthier and I am just plain happier all the way around! Do what you feel is right for you!!!! You are so successful!!!

Alex! I thought it was all in my head! I have a fill appt coming up in a couple of weeks and all of a sudden I am feeling that restriction just like I felt it after my first fill! UGH! I thought I was going nuts! hmmmm maybe I am!!

I am putting in this face shot so you can see how dramatically my face changed with the weight loss..comparing the befores and afters. People who have known me for years do not recognize me...crazy!!!!

Me and my granddaughter about a month ago.... Shayla is 6months old in this picture!