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Giving up diet pepsi is hard, but worth it. I found that by giving up that bad habit---the snacking that went along with it decreased, too!! Good luck to all!!

Hi Everyone, I am from Michigan---Troy. I am a patient of Dr. Deol's. She and Rebecca are wonderful. I highly recommend getting your band from Dr. Deol. I am almost 2 years out. I am still learning to trust my band to do its' job. I am also, still trying to un-learn the last lifetime of bad habits. I just remember that this is a process---meaning I am going to be doing this for the rest of my life. I would be happy to talk to any of you with questions, etc. about Dr. Deol, or anything else!!

Oh my goodness!! Two fills in a month? I was banded in April and just had my 2nd fill yesterday, December 10th. Yes, everyone is different, but I am very concerned about you, Loveme, as has been stated here, erosion and slippage are very scary effects of not using your band properly. Please listen to the "older" bandsters, they speak from real experience and as I have been reading their posts for over a year now, they truly know of what they speak!!

I just got my second fill yesterday. I feel like Maurice, that the holiday season shouldn't make a difference. This is for the rest of my life and I am just going to take it day by day. Good luck everyone---especially with all those cookies and treats!! (Definetly my weak spot!!)

DeLarla, I'm glad I made the cut!! Oprah, here we come!!

My personal computer has some problems and the only time I can get on is at work and school just started and today is the first day I have been here since June. This is the coolest thread. Hope I'm not too late for Oprah!! Take care and glad to see you!! Greta Penni: 4/6/04 -- 47 lbs Lisa: 5/5/04 -- 51 lbs Becky 6/03/04 - 53 lbs Denice: 8/12/04 -- 20 lbs Leatha 05/29/03 - 67 lbs Michelle 4/6/04 -- 49.75 lbs Marie 5/26/04 -- 39 lbs Donali 1/23/03 -- 102 lbs Kathy 5/21/04 -- 41 lbs Cindy 7/22/04 -- 40 lbs Teresa 5/8/04 -- 63 lbs Kelly 8/20/03 -- 65 lbs Kyleigh 9/23/03 -- 60 lbs Bright 10/28/03 -- 70 lbs Michelle 6/14/04 - 20 lbs Babs 6/23/03 -- 136 lbs Nancy 8/27/03 -- 55 lbs michelle - shellyj 8-18-03 - 130 pounds Vera 8/14/03 -- 64 lbs Jacky 4/5/04 - 40 lbs Chris S. 9/02/03 - 54 lbs Debra 7/19/04 -- 17 lbs. Janie 5/6/04 -- 41 lbs Denise 5/28/04--33 lbs. Kim 8/23/04 -- 28 lbs. Andrea 9/8/04-- 12lbs. Carol 12/2/9/03 -- 102 lbs. Maureen 3/17/04--49 lbs. Carolyn 2/27/04 -- 61lbs (-81 since 1-8-04) Greta 3/12/04---37 lbs. Total = 1656.75 Hi All---I've missed seeing you!! :cry

Today is Michelle's surgery!! Michelle, Just want you to know you are being thought of and praying for a successful surgery, and a speedy recovery!! Take care, Greta

Great Job and wecome to bandland! This is the place you can go when you feel that there isn't another person in the world who understands what you are feeling. Welcome!! Greta

Hi Michelle, I think if you didn't feel nervous, I'd be worried!! I know that you are a single mom, like me, and anytime you go "under" there is a huge risk---but Dr. Deol made sure that you were healthy and ready for surgery, so it will be okay!! Congrats and good luck. Let me know how everything turns out!! Don't forget to walk, walk, walk, to get rid of the gas. :cool: I'll be thinking of you, Greta

I am also a patient of Dr. Deol. She is great!! She has you do lots of pre-op checks, but it just made me thankful that she was checking for every possible problem. She also requires lots of follow-up in order to ensure your success. Post-surgery and I see the nutritionist about every 6 weeks, there is a support group run by the nutritionist and a psychologist and I have also choosen to go to individual therapy to search out the root of my eating problems. My stay at Beaumont hospital was great. So, if you choose Dr. Deol, I think you will be very happy. Greta Good Luck!

Hi Shelly and Cindy! Shelly---like you, I am following an adkins based eating plan. I was a total skeptic about the adkins---until I did it for my pre-op diet. WOW---I was a total carb adict before I did that and now that I eat my Protein first, veggies next, I almost never eat the potato, rice, Pasta, etc. I used to eat the carb first and then the rest and was hungry again after a short period of time. I can't believe the difference this has made in my feelings of hunger and cravings! I feel full longer and most days do not crave the sugar. So Cindy--try it, and I hope you find success with this too! -30, no fills Greta

Hi Linda, My Dr. suggested only telling your inner-circle of people. I did not tell anyone but my immediate family. The Dr. said that if you tell too many people---for example, your co-workers, they may bug you about how much weight you have lost. So you might feel pressure to worry about numbers instead of being healthy. She said that there have been so many of her patients that regreted telling people for this reason. So, I would be cautious about who you tell. As for your daughter---sometimes mother-daugther relationships can be antagonistic and if she knows and wants to hurt you, she may tell people you don't want to know. Just me trying to give the other side of the story!! Good luck and let us know what you decide. Greta

Hi Kathy, Like you, I loved my diet pop. I had always allowed myself as much of it as wanted---figuring that it tasted good, had no calories and if this was my only addiction---besides food then I deserved it!! I would drink a 2-liter every day or so. Then as I was researching the band, I kept hearing that I couldn't have my diet pepsi anymore. I think that was my biggest obstacle to making up my mind to have the surgery. I checked with my Dr. and she said that I shouldn't drink the pop for at least the first month and that I should probably just get used to the idea of not ever having it again. So....long story short---I am a month post-op and I have not had a single solitary sip of diet pepsi. :cry I miss it, but I like the way I feel better that I liked the taste of the pop. My family used to tease me about my "addiction" and now they are amazed that I gave it up. Now with all the news about pop causing esophigial cancer, maybe it was for the best. Good luck and drink your diet coke until you go in and then kiss it good bye. LOL Greta

WOW!!! Keep up the great work!!

Hi Michelle, Wow, no wonder you have been up and down. What a mess and how stressful. I saw Dr. Deol today (one month post-op) and she said that there was a lot of worry with some patients about the insurance changes. What a bummer. I guess bottom line is that they don't want to pay for surgery. Boy that makes sense, right? In the long run it would be much cheaper to pay for the side effects of diabetes, sleep apnea (at $1,000 a test!) etc. I don't understand their thinking. I am glad that you are back on track, though!! As my dad likes to say, "Keep your chin up!" Greta

You know that I love this site because everyone celebrates with the good and "holds our hands" during the rough times. Thanks for cheering with me!!

Yahoo!! I am one month post-surgery and the scale hasn't moved a ton---(about 15 pounds) however, I tried on capris from 2 summers ago (couldn't wear them last year) and the fit!! Keeping my eye on the distance!! Greta

Hi Ginny, We are banderversary buddies!! How are you doing and feeling? Getting hungry and feeling like you could sit and eat and eat and eat? I imagine eating a peice of pizza or anything that I can bite into and chew and feel in my stomach. LOL Hopefully, the therapy that I am in will help me stop overeating in my head so that I can stop thinking of food all the time. I am doing the "mushies" now. They seem to keep my tummy from rumbling a longer period of time. Cottage cheese, egg beaters, mashed potatoes and gravy. All the soft carbs that I had to avoid the 2 weeks prior to the surgery. When is your post-op appointment? As far as the gas, walk, walk, walk. I think even 10 minutes at a time is good. Take care!! Greta

Hi kataylee, Wow, what a small world. I live in Troy MI now, but I used to live and teach in Saginaw. We are also very close in surgery dates and I am on the same step as you except I got moved to "mushies" on Weds. (10 days after surgery) Where did you have your surgery? If your hubby is not willing to help, try making dishes that are your least favorite that won't tempt you to eat---how about boiled cabbage and beets?? Wouldn't the gang love that. Anyway, nice to see other MI people here!! Greta

Hi, Eat your last meal!! Just kidding. My Dr. had me do a modified adkins for 2 weeks before the surgery to shrink my liver. I've read that different Dr.s suggest different things. Just stock up on soups, crystal light or some fruit juice, and continue to be as active as you can before and after the surgery---you'll feel better faster. Good luck and here's to everything going great!!

Hi JoAnnFYI and kombat96, I just had my surgery, too---on the 12th. I have not had any numbness---it sounds like something that your Dr. really would want to know---so just to be on the safe side, I'd call and see what they say!! Take care, Greta

Hi All, I just want to repeat what I have read from so many postings about the advice given on this site: Listen to it but find out first what your Dr. wants you[/b] to do. I listened to someones advice without checking with my Dr. and she wasn't happy with me. :mad: It wasn't a big deal, but just reminded me that each Dr. wants/expects different things. 10 days out and feeling Great!!

HI Monimoni, I am just about one and a half weeks out, so you and I are close to sharing a band birthday!! Anyway, I have a gurgling stomach alot, too. I was having a hard time telling if it was hunger or just noise----still working on telling the difference. I just started soft solids and that is helping me beat the boredom. I got some yoplait whips in pina colada and strawberry mist and then the breakstone cottage cheese doubles. I am also having oatmeal and egg beaters have different flavors like southwestern and chive and cheese. Hope this gives you a couple of ideas!! Take care, Greta

Leo, Thanks for the idea. The incisions by my belly button and the one directly above it are starting to itch and putting on the antibiotic cream helped ease it. Just 3 more days until I go for my post-op with Dr. Deol. Hope she says I can have something besides liquid---I am starting to feel hungry!! :cry

Hi! 4 days after surgery. Went to the Detroit Zoo today and walked with my family. It felt great! I was pretty tired after the 2 1/2 hours we were there, but tired in a good way. When the Dr. says walk, walk, walk, I think it makes sense. Good thing I had my surgery in the spring!! As far as my incision sites---they are looking black and dark blue---the tape is still on and will be taken off next Weds. at my 1st post-op appointment with Dr. Deol. (If it doesn't fall off by itself first!) I was able to shower on Weds.---had surgery on Mon. It felt wonderful. I'm not too worried about scarring on my tummy---not planning on entering any bikini contests in the near future!! Thanks for all your responses and encouragment!!!