leatha_g

Ya'll are just too sweet to me. Thanks. Paula, it's okay if I can't eat much, really. Truthfully, this band takes a great weight off my shoulders (and my behind) when it's working right. I have a love/ hate relationship with food and something about being restricted well and not being able to overeat just takes so much guilt away from me. I haven't lost anything to speak of, but they did my measurements at Curves this evening and I've still lost 9.25 inches since my last measurement!! So, I feel better about my stall now. Thanks for all your support! I don't know where I'd be without all of you.

Welp, I'm back from my fill and I'm interested to see how it goes. :nervous He bumped me up from 2.4 to 2.9. :eek I have lost exactly 50% of my beginning excess weight. That may not sound like much to some, but to me, it's been the difference in life and death, literally. The doc was very cool, saying 'isn't that just the neatest thing? that you can do that with this one little band?" He was just going on about what a neat thing that is. Then, he wished me luck on tackling the last 50%. I really hope this fill does the trick. I'm sooo not wanting to go through the reflux and trauma routine again. At least he's close. . I guess we'll know in the next day or so.. Gotta run exercise!

Your loss is well within the 'average' range of being banded. Especially if you take the first 6 weeks (before a fill) off. So do not be discouraged by that. You're doing great! Now, if you are still able to eat anything and as much volume as you want, then you may need a fill. The questions in the link posted are all good questions to answer. Then I think you'll have a pretty good idea of which way to go from there. It's not that having fills is a bad thing. The band is designed to use the fills. But, overfilling, as opposed to making better food choices is risky business. ****************************************************** It's all a learning curve, for all of us. Even the docs, which concerns me when I hear of some new protocol, like skipping the basics of healing time or allowing their patient to go straight to solid foods right away. I can't help but wonder what their motive is? Possibly return business? Makes one wonder..

LOL. I'm excited about it too. ROAD TRIP!!! and, I lived in Galveston, on the seawall when I was 3. I've never gotten to stay there since, so maybe I can point out some things I actually remember.

Yikes! This is something better taken care of BEFORE surgery. It's proving really tough to get a doctor to see someone banded out of the states (or whom they didn't operate on in the beginning). Is there someone your doc has done business with in the past who might be able to help? Sometimes, if they are one of the proctoring docs, they set up follow up care with people they've helped to teach? Otherwise, you might check with local radiology centers? You can do a surgeon locator for your area on www.lap-band.com. Let us know if any of this helps!

I'm with you, Babs! I made myself get serious yesterday too. I'd like to see the 170's before the holidays. I did really well yesterday, we'll see if I can keep it up. Danger lurks, in the way of work. lol.. Oh, and I get a fill today. Please cross your fingers that this will be 'the one'. Not too big, not too little, but justttt right..

LMAO!! Greg you're terrible. lol. Thanks for the laugh so early in the morning. Welcome home MOM! By the end of the week, you'll be feeling much better! Rest while you can, walk, walk, walk and sip, sip, sip constantly. Take care of yourself and keep us posted on how you're doing!

Welcome Mindi! Sounds like you have the ever elusive restriction. That is what we're all hoping for, so our bands stop us from eating as much. Try cutting your bites into pea-size pieces and maybe make sure you have some sort of sauce/food lube for your meats. Chew, chew, chew.. It's all a learning curve, for sure! Good luck to you!

LMAOROFLPMP(laughing my a** off, rolling on the floor laughing, peeing my pants)

I have only been banded since May, 2003. I can definitely tell you that if you do not maintain the required eating habits, you can definitely regain your weight. That being said, that is the beauty of the band. It doesn't just go away when you're done. You maintain your fills so that you can maintain your eating habits and your weight loss OR if you realize that your weight is beginning to creep back up, you can go in for a tweak of the fill. Yes. I have heard of some folks who have regained some weight. I have even heard of some who 'ate around' their bands to the point of not losing at all or regaining their initial loss. I do know that on Yahoo Groups Smartbandsters and www.spotlighthealth.com there are some of the initial bandsters who were in on the trials and who were banded in Mexico and France before the trials who have lost to their goals and who now, (some 6 yrs out) are still maintaining their losses. I hope that helps to answer your question.

Samy, There are many pics already posted. If you go up to your right, to where it says Search, you can enter in the search 'pics' and it will bring up many posts with all kinds of pics, from before and afters, to bruises from surgery to our families, etc. There are like 5 pages of them, so be sure to look down to the right bottom of your page and click on the next page. Happy viewing! Leatha

I have a list of local Inamed certified doctors in the area. Unfortunately, this list does not specify facilities they use. I can send to you privately if you'd like to give me your email addy. You can send that in PM if you like, or you can use my email leatha_g@hotmail.com . Also, there is a Westin Park Central there close and a Sheraton Park Central, both very nice places. (I oughta know I used to live there.lol) I believe there is a DoubleTree within driving distance and I can look for others, if you like. Hope this helps!

I understand. I'm 5' even and I made it up to 250 - something I still can't believe sometimes. I'm very sorry to hear about your mom I have systemic lupus also. Thankfully, I have a mild case, but as you probably know, it only takes one serious infection and it can be fine one day and horrific the next. I've had major blood clotting problems, which has yet to be blamed on the Lupus, but I seriously think there is some connection. The band has definitely helped me to regain some semblance of health so that I might be able to fight any future problems better. Good luck to you with your decision!

Your insurance covers the doc here, but do you know if it covers the facility he does surgery at? That was the hurdle I ran up against when I wanted to use the facility and Dr. Benevides.

I think it's very wise of you to do your research. I've heard pretty much only good things about Dr. J. Not sure who the doc is, but it seems like Medical City, Dallas also has a lapband program. Rodriguez, perhaps? Have you tried the surgeon locator in www.lap-band.com website?

You made it back to real food!! Congratulations on sticking with your post-op slushies and mushies. It's hell, but your band will thank you for it! Way to go Betty!!

I don't think I'm nervous. I always enjoy meeting everyone. Don't be nervous. lol. Most of us don't bite, unless you ask us to... :devious

Great job!! Keep up the good work!!

You'll do it, Barbara. You've been working so hard. You'll finally get there. I just know it! As for me, it's a crap shoot! lol. I go for another fill on Tuesday and I'm praying it will finally be enough to stop me, but more than that, I have to get the bad carbs back out of my mind. I'm really struggling with junk and I have to find a way to keep it to a minimum. I boiled up a bunch of eggs today so that I'll have something to grab when I go hunting and there is no more junk in the house. Now if I can just keep it that way. Progress, not perfection, right? I've been battling the same 5-6lbs since Labor Day and that's way too long. It's time to get serious about this last 40-50lbs for me. I've been working on my apartment all day today instead of just sitting here at this machine and I've done much better about grazing. It's a start.. Good luck, I know you'll get there!

This is not being 'choked'. This is restriction, which is exactly why we get the band, to STOP us from eating. The reason behind NOT drinking during meals is so that you won't wash it through but to let it sit in your pouch as long as possible so that you don't feel hungry. I realize habits are hard to break, but that is why we had to resort to being banded - so it would help us to break these habits that got us where we are. If you work against the band, you will most assuredly wind up with some disappointment. Please be kind to your band and listen to what it is trying to tell you. You are very new at this and can do damage to yourself and your band by going against the rules and forcing your food on through when it is clearly showing you restriction(which means STOP eating). I really hope you will discuss with your doctor again about post op foods and fills. I understand everyone is different, but your band is meant to last for a lifetime and this early behavior may very well cause you problems. I'm not meaning to be harsh, I am just concerned that you feel somehow the rules of the band do not apply to you and having been around now for well over 3 yrs, I've only seen this come to a bad end. Please read Inameds Patient handbook, clarify with your doctor how he feels about washing food through with drinking during eating. Remind him that he has given you two fills way before most bandsters and make sure he realizes you are so early post-op. Sometimes they don't even remember who we are, they just do what we ask them, which could really get us into big trouble if it's not the right thing to do. http://www.inamed.com/pdf/health/94829F_LB_Patient_Book.pdf Please read the patient food recommendations and fill information recommended by the manufacturer of the band.

Kelly, Good luck to you tomorrow with your surgery and I hope you have a quick and smooth recovery! Please let us know how you are doing when you feel up to it !

Laura a.k.a. TannsGranny or Granny LaLa Ahh.. Granny LaLa, welcome! I just saw all the rucus on OH. You won't find much of that here. So you're finally going to a informational meeting? Congrats!

Well, that's great news hemmerhead!! I'm really glad you had a great experience. Dr. Ortiz sounds like a spectacular guy all around! Congratulations and welcome to the banded side!!

Yep. What she said. And TOO much is not better. Your kidneys can only assimilate so much at a time.

Just want to take a moment to wish you the very best for your surgery and subsequent recovery!! Please let us know how you are doing once you feel like it!!!