DELETE THIS ACCOUNT!

I actually tucked my shirt into my jeans in order to help keep them up.. OMG i have not done that is so many years...

I am so sorry, Donna.

Alcohol is a blood thinner and usually forbidden for a couple weeks before surgery.
Check with your doctor before drinking. It's not worth having to postpone your surgery for a drink.

I'm still here, just restricted to using mostly my phone app because I am in Georgia for the holiday. However, I can now easily see current Lap Band threads (thanks to Alex for fixing this!) so that makes it much easier

I am so sorry, Donna.

I am so sorry, Donna.

I am so sorry, Donna.

I am so sorry, Donna.

I had a funny NSV over the holiday.
I was with my brother and nephew when my nephew's mom (my brother's ex) came to pick my nephew up. She was totally skunk eyeing me something wicked. She wouldn't even respond to my attempts at small talk. I was thinking "wow, she hates me!". Still, I just tried to ignore her and loved on my nephew.
When it was time for them to leave, my brother walked them out. When he came back, he was laughing. Apparently, she had no idea who I was and assumed I was my brother's new girlfriend! LMAO! She asked him who I was (curse words included) and he laughed "ummm, you mean my sister?" He said her jaw literally dropped and she goes "no way! but she's so little now! It doesn't look like her at all!" My brother told her I'd lost over 200 pounds so it's no wonder she didn't recognize me. I guess she then felt bad for being such a b#tch to me.
I laughed so hard!!

It'll be at least month before you can swim after surgery. Your incisions have to be fully healed before you are submerged in Water because of infection risk.
You surgeon will give you specific instructions, be sure to check with him.
As far as once you're healed, the Lap Band doesn't change anything at all except looking a heck of a lot better in a bathing suit

Dry meat is the only thing I consistently have problems with.
I find when eating stuff like chicken or even pork chops, marinading seems to really help a lot. This way the meat doesn't get dry and stuck. I'm constantly looking for low calories, low fat ways to add moisture and flavor to meat.

yes, i agree with missy here (yet again) sorry missy if i appear as a stalker of sorts...
but if in doubt with ANYTHING (drinking, eating, farting, sex, walking the donkey).....just merely call and ask your doctor........they will give you the answer you need for you
ps: why kind of ugly ornaments do you get? sounds like a GREAT party (idea).

Well I think this might be a NSV that's how I think of it , my Aunt was out for the last two weeks visiting and she commented how good I moved and looked and my Uncle said my attitude had changed then they both asked if I was exercising cause my stomache didn't look as out as it did two yrs, ago and I told them no I just walk and bend over a lot at work , they seemed to be proud of my changed way of banded life, as they both have to watch their weight do to medical reasons.

Try it and see how you do with it. It's the only way you'll know.
Personally, I don't have a problem with it cooked or raw.

Lol too funny. I love it!!!! Congrats to you and keep up the great work.

Esophageal dilation occurs when the portion of the stomach above the band is essentially stretched. The best way to avoid esophageal dilation (and correct it) is to not over eat, not allow your band be too tight, and stick to band sized portions.
If your band hasn't slipped, you're not over eating and are sticking to band sized portions, the chances are very good the esophageal dilation will correct itself. Granted I'm no doctor but it seems when caught early and treated accordingly it's usually reversible.
Best wishes.

I had a funny NSV over the holiday.
I was with my brother and nephew when my nephew's mom (my brother's ex) came to pick my nephew up. She was totally skunk eyeing me something wicked. She wouldn't even respond to my attempts at small talk. I was thinking "wow, she hates me!". Still, I just tried to ignore her and loved on my nephew.
When it was time for them to leave, my brother walked them out. When he came back, he was laughing. Apparently, she had no idea who I was and assumed I was my brother's new girlfriend! LMAO! She asked him who I was (curse words included) and he laughed "ummm, you mean my sister?" He said her jaw literally dropped and she goes "no way! but she's so little now! It doesn't look like her at all!" My brother told her I'd lost over 200 pounds so it's no wonder she didn't recognize me. I guess she then felt bad for being such a b#tch to me.
I laughed so hard!!

Not a silly question at all!
I've known many people who've bought child sized silverware to help regulate their portions. Many will also eat off salad plates rather than dinner plates for the same reason.
I say go for it- you have nothing to lose. In fact, I bet it would help.

Esophageal dilation occurs when the portion of the stomach above the band is essentially stretched. The best way to avoid esophageal dilation (and correct it) is to not over eat, not allow your band be too tight, and stick to band sized portions.
If your band hasn't slipped, you're not over eating and are sticking to band sized portions, the chances are very good the esophageal dilation will correct itself. Granted I'm no doctor but it seems when caught early and treated accordingly it's usually reversible.
Best wishes.

Esophageal dilation occurs when the portion of the stomach above the band is essentially stretched. The best way to avoid esophageal dilation (and correct it) is to not over eat, not allow your band be too tight, and stick to band sized portions.
If your band hasn't slipped, you're not over eating and are sticking to band sized portions, the chances are very good the esophageal dilation will correct itself. Granted I'm no doctor but it seems when caught early and treated accordingly it's usually reversible.
Best wishes.

Esophageal dilation occurs when the portion of the stomach above the band is essentially stretched. The best way to avoid esophageal dilation (and correct it) is to not over eat, not allow your band be too tight, and stick to band sized portions.
If your band hasn't slipped, you're not over eating and are sticking to band sized portions, the chances are very good the esophageal dilation will correct itself. Granted I'm no doctor but it seems when caught early and treated accordingly it's usually reversible.
Best wishes.

So I had a 2 for 1 appt today, first one with my Dr's PA that doesnt like to give fills. I stayed the same weight since last visit (5 weeks ago) so we talked about why I was hungry, the frustration of only having 1 fill (in july) , how to fix my hunger issues....etc....so she kindly gave me a .5 cc fill. FINALLY!!
But i still dont like her that much.
Ok now I see my surgeon. Dr Courcoulas is amazing. I discuss the torture of the PA not giving me fills, i told her the PA said that they dont like to fill the band past 5cc and ask if this is true?
The look on her face was priceless. Answer NO not true!!
So my surgron said there are actually 3 PA's at the office. She said Marianne the PA i seen is very very conservative. But she does not want me to see her.
She said Amy a diffrent PA is a little more aggessive with fills. And i will be seeing her instead.
All of the things i told my surgeon about was like she had no clue what her PA was doing to.people what torture! I am finally glad i did this and its being tooken care of .
To make it so bad the PA Amy told me that as long as I was ok with it the bariatric coordinator would give me a call and discuss this same issues with her to try to make things better.
There are people on this forum that are going through the same thing regarding fills...please switch to Amy. She already told me that if i think i need a fill i can have one, i shouldnt be told no. I am the customer. I am so glad i did this now maybe my band can help me a lil bit more instead of me feeling like im doing all 100% of the work.

Not a silly question at all!
I've known many people who've bought child sized silverware to help regulate their portions. Many will also eat off salad plates rather than dinner plates for the same reason.
I say go for it- you have nothing to lose. In fact, I bet it would help.

I was so nervous going into my doc's office today for my fill. Well his nurses forgot to tell me not to eat anything before I got there, thank goodness it was a very busy morning and I didn't have a chance to eat a thing - I grabbed some egg salad from the deli in the doc office building and when I got to his office I opened up the container and was just about to nibble my 4 oz of egg salad when a gal, who had been banded in April, and I began to chat and I told her I was there for my 1st fill and she yelps - "you can't eat anything!!!" - phew, that was close.
so I go in and unfortunately the scale didn't move much in a month - only 4lbs (that's the bummer news) but the good news is that the fill didn't hurt one bit - not even a little snag of a pain. He giggled when I asked him if he was going to numb the area - he said he used to but the numbing needle and solution stung more than the fill needle he just stopped doing it - well I can see why! Plus he does it himself - he's the expert and leaves this stuff to himself, no PA no one else but him - he's done it 10,000+ times. Now I cannot wait to go in for fill #2!
He put in 4cc's into my 11cc band and I go back on Jan 6th - one month or 5 weeks from today. He believes in the Green Zone but he said when he designates that I'm in the green zone, no one else, not even me. I like how controlling and accountable my doc is and I like that he remembered all of my issues from the last appointment.
We all have such different experiences - I've been reading so much on here - but honestly this is SO personal in a sea of people who fight the same battles everyday. So happy to be here on this forum!
Cheers y'all

Hi all
Today I was looking some old pictures and now I can really see the difference from before and after sorry I can't share but I don't know how to post pictures , I put together before and after in my phone and text the photo to my husband, he said you look great and different, LOL!!!! I was banded 11/06/13 , I just can't understand why I did not did this before!! Thank you all for the support I got when I start checking this site for information ., thanks ajtexas I attaching a picture!