MissBrownelocks

Open letter to family & friends, The reason I am writing this open letter. Is because someone told me I should write Admin(on a different site) about my successful weight lose story and I had someone else send me a personal email telling me I was an inspiration to her. My MAIN goal to have this weight loss surgery was to stop my Diabetes in its tracks from doing any more harm to my body. Which I have done! I have been considered NOT A DIABETIC for almost two years!(My A1C has been normal.) Losing the weight was just a bonus. The reason I do not like to be classified as a mentor or an inspiration is because I feel pretty much that I didn't do anything to lose 160lbs!( I know that by cutting my food intake by 3/4 has been the reason why.) I still have this its to good to be true mentality and I am still waiting for the other shoe. I was banded 5/14/02. I was in the hospital for a week due to being so swollen that I couldn’t even swallow my own spit.( Lost 20lbs in that week.) I was losing about 10lbs a month. At six months I had lost 100lbs. I have never really followed the “Bandster Rules”, or exercised like I should have. (One being because I had other problems that hindered me from doing exercise.) I do walk regularly and swim occasionally. I don’t drink the Protein drinks.(My doctor says we should get our protein from the food we eat.) I don’t take my Vitamins. On my fourth week of all liquids I had an whole taco & Enchilada with all the fixings. I lived off of Water, Pecan Sandies, and Doritos for the first three months. (That was about all I could keep down!) I was the MAIN PB Queen. (I still have issues with that. THANK GOD my band has not slipped! Since June my weight has gone as low as 209 and as high 228. Due to a broken port, then the port revision, and an until in Dec. I have fallen into the “Soft Food Syndrome” since Jan. I know that I will REALLY have to work to lose these last 50lbs.or I will NEVER get under 200. If I am an to be a role model to pre Ops and those already banded it is to be a role model of what not to do. XOXO~Teresa

WTG on getting under 200! I will join that club some day!! XOXO~Teresa

Alexandra, Sorry to hear you are having one of those days. I have been having a few months like that. Just remember tomorrow will be better! XOXO~Teresa

Zadyzu, I would wait if I were you. Since you are still in the liquid stage. I am almost 2yrs out. I know from my experience, when I drink I am able to eat more. Which is not a good thing. Alcohol is empty carlories. XOXO~Teresa

Christina, Welcome to the board. Glad to see another Nebraskan here! I think everyone thinking weather they are MO or not that we are just not trying hard enough. I though the same way. Until I finally realize that MO is a disease. Wow six children! Girl sometimes I can't handle the three I have! You are Superwoman! Once again welcome to the group! You will find alot of information and friendships. Don't be afraid to ask any questions. XOXO~Teresa Gering, NE 34 yrs young Banded:5/14/02 Port Revision:9/22/03 Dr. Hollway & Dr. Forney Regional West Medical Center Scottsbluff, NE .80cc's 366/209/180-160 <~~Goal!

Wilo, Welcome to the board. Congrats on your loss! Just remember that weight is gone FOREVER!! Keep us up to date on your weight loss journey. I live in NE. I am about 3hrs from Denver. One of these days we will have to get together. XOXO~Teresa

Babs, Way to go! Keep up the GREAT work!

Kim, I am answering quickly because I am surfin the site. It was minor surgery. I went in at 5am and got out that night.

Hey all, I know I haven't been an active memeber for awhile, But now that I have a computer at home will be on daily. I have been reading to catch up. WELCOME TO ALL THE NEWBIES!! XOXO~Teresa 34 5'9 Divorced 3 Children~15/13/11 Gering, Nebraska Surgery: 5/14/02 Port Revision: 9/22/02 .80cc Used to be at 2cc 366/209/180-160<~~~Goal!!! Some day soon!!! Dr. Halloway & Dr. Forney Regional West Medical Center Scottsbluff, Nebraska

Kim, Answer to your first ? A Port Revision is when your port becomes disconnected. I had to have my port removed and a new one put in a different site and reconnected.This does not happen very much anymore because the company that makes the band has fixed the problem. Now your second ? .80cc's is less that 2cc's. Hence the higher the # the tighter the restriction. To me it seems that you would have to get more cc's to get better restriction. But since I had my revision being at .80cc is just like being at 2cc's for me. That is what is great about the band. It can be ajusted to fit your needs. XOXO~Teresa

Good luck! Praying for a speedy and safe surgery! Keep us up to date on your journey. XOXO~Teresa

WELCOME to the group! Sending out good vibes and prayers to you and your daughter! Keep us up to date on your journey! XOXO~Teresa

Kim, Thanks for the kind words. MY journey has been a roller coaster ride to say the least. I take the good & the bad and learn from my experiance. As far as the cc's go, its just letting each other know. Everyone is different. 2cc's was my "sweet spot" for about a year. Since my port revision I get my fills in tenths. I am at .80cc. I am pretty restricted. I eat one good meal a day. Drink my 64oz of Water, coffee fiend here! and some snaks. I know the wait is a pain. I called my surgen Aug. 01, got my cosult Dec. o1, my ins appoval March 02, and my surgery May 14. 02. I thought it was a life time!! I am very lucky since now it can take up to 6mos here for a cosult and my former ins is doing it case by case and also taking up to 6mos for approval. Good luck on your journey keep us up to date. XOXO~Teresa

Is it worth it? HELL Yes!!! Would I do it again? YES!!! In a heartbeat!! What you are feeling is normal. Have I had problems? YES! 99% caused my me! Remember our band is a tool. We have to work at it too. The first think I tell pre ops is to do your research and do it for you nobody else. XOXO~Teresa 34 5'9 Divorced 3 Children~15/13/11 Gering, Nebraska Surgery: 5/14/02 Port Revision: 9/22/02 .80cc Used to be at 2cc 366/209/180-160<~~~Goal!!! Some day soon!!! Dr. Halloway & Dr. Forney Regional West Medical Center Scottsbluff, Nebraska

I am 5'9 and my starting weight was 366lbs. My doctor has done over 500 band placements and I am by far not the heaviest he has done. XOXO~Teresa

Hi , Annette, My name is Teresa. I am from Gering, NE about 2 1/2 hours from Greeley. I would like to have a " In Person" meeting with you. I will be in Greeley either on the 6th or 13th of Sept. Drop me an Email and we can get to know each other. My addy is msbrownielocks@yahoo.com Amberose, As you seen from above I am from NE and a lot closer to you than COLO. Here is some info on my doctor. I don't know how much he charges for a fill for people from out of town but I heard it was dirt cheap! Our fills are free. We pay just for the office visit. ($52) Dr. Holloway Two West 42nd St Scottsbluff, Ne 69341 Toll Free # 1-800-321-6790 www.westernsurgicalgroup.com XOXO~Teresa

OMG gurl ! you have me *blushin*!! Who me star bandster?!?! Thank you ,Thank you. As you can see its been a busy summer. I have started a walking program. I am feeling great. I go see the doctor on Sept. 19th. We will see if I need another fill or not. Every time I go I think I will need another one but he says " as long as I lose weight he wont feel me." Hope you are having a good summer too. Keep up the good work hon. XOXO~Teresa

Hola from Nebraska! My name is Teresa . I was banded 14 1/2 mos ago. I have lost 176lbs! I now weigh 190. My goal is to lose another 10-30lbs. I was banded in Scottsbluff, NE by Dr. Halloway and Dr. Forney at Regional West Medical Center. I have had two fills. I have 2cc's in. I hope to be an active member of this site. If you have any questions or comments drop me a line. XOXO~Teresa

Dee, I know I haven't had a chance to get to a support group meeting. Its been a hectic summer. I am doing a lot better now that I had me historectomy. I seen your reply at SL about husbands gainning weight and i seen you stats you are doing GREAT girl! Hope to see you at the next meeting (Sept. 2nd) XOXO~Teresa