Donna113

People do expect WLS to be miraculous thanks to all the coverage gastric by-pass has received and practically nil on lap band. That's why I always feel like I have to explain why I've only lost 13/14 lbs in 6 weeks. People expect 30 to 50. Sigh... can't please everyone so I'm just giong to try and please myself. BTW, my doctor performs both bypass and lap band. He said he had no interest in pushing people in one direction over the other. Although he said this, I definitely felt he preferred lap band over bypass but I may have just read that into his demeanor because I was determined to have lap band. The bypass scares me way too much. Mortality rate is 1 out of every 50 patients.

What is a hiatal hernia and what causes it?

Orea, you're so close to your first goal (just 12 lbs) and I'm sure you'll hit it as soon as you go off mushies and into solid foods. 4 weeks is a VERY LONG TIME to be on mushies. I bet you're looking forwarding to hearing crunch when you bite down.

It seems like it's been while since we've heard from some of our original members. It may be that you guys are lurking but not posting so I'd love to hear from you. Just post a hello or something to let us know you're still with us.

Depends on what you define as success. I think many people on here are the ones that are working the band fully and getting good results. I also think there are many who have been banded and didn't get good results so naturally they avoid forums like this and anything to do with band that reminds them of their "failure". My doctor said (he's performed over 5,000 of them and was one of the few who worked with the FDA trials to get it approved in the USA) he considers success to be 50% loss of exccess weight. So, if you have 100 lbs to lose and you lose 50, then you are considered a success for purposes of the lap band. I don't consider 50% loss of excess weight a success so I plan on working with the band for the rest of my life to take it off and keep it off. I WILL BE A SUCCESS on my own terms and definitions.

I don't think people are waiting for you to fail. Of course there are those miserable, vicious people in the world, but I honestly think most people are happy when others succeed and sometimes use it as inspiration for them. I hope you know we're all pulling for you and I bet most of the people in your life, even the ones you don't know well, are also cheering you on.

I'm having my lunch at my desk right now and I'm so famished I just want to scarf it down but I ate the first bite a little fast (even though I chewed a lot) and it reminded me to slow TFD!!!! I have got to make sure I have nutrious snacks at work with me so I don't let myself get to this starving point. My 2nd fill is next Tuesday so hopefully that will help me from getting to this point as well.

I just noticed Legster had alphabetized the list! Thanks!

WOW! HOORAY! CONGRATULATIONS! YOU'RE AWESOME!!!:thumbup::smile2:

Where are you all finding the wii fit? They're always out of stock at Target and Wal-Mart. Where do you recommend I try?

OK, today was Week 1/Day 3. It was so much better than Days 1 and 2. I walk at 3.2 mph and jog at 5 mph on my treadmill. I felt good doing it today. I'm not so sure I'm ready to move on to week 2 the day after tomorrow so I think I might do a modified version of week 1 and 2, add 10 seconds of running and 10 seconds of walking (70/100) and work my way up to 90/120.

How about a compromise? An office in Houston AND an office in Dallas. Lots and lots of southern ladies who've been eating too much of the good southern food down here in Texas. Housotn was voted the fattest city in the country a couple of years ago. Lots of work here for a plastic surgeon.

Chrisann, keep us posted. This is better than a soap opera.

Hollie, when you have negative thoughts or feelings, ask yourself "Is this helpful?" If you're not in the mood to ask then just tell those thoughts to shut up!

Rachel, since you first posed this question in March, have you been banded? If so, who did you eventually go with? In case you haven't been banded, I would recommend Dr. Spivak. He banded me on July 16. His staff is great and Dr. Spivak does the fills himself on Tuesdays and Thursdays with barium tests. All included in the first year if you take the inclusive package (mine cost $12,900).

Hollie, you've accomplished A LOT for such a young person. You clearly are very goal oriented and focused and the fact that you are self-sufficient and responsible at such a young age is great. Don't compare yourself to other people, there's only one you and that's the only you that matters.

Good luck Daisy. I hope you get good restriction but don't be too suprised or annoyed if you don't with the first fill. I got negligible restriction with my first fill last week so I'm looking forward to my second fill next week.

Marie, congrats on breaking through the "funk". I hope the same for me soon. Steve, WTG! Very impressive weight loss to date.

Congratulations on your decision and getting a date. I hope everything goes well for you. Where in Texas are you and which doctor have you chosen?

Dr. Schulman, thank you for being on this forum and being so generous with your time and advice. I wish you practiced in Houston.

You should call your doctor and tell him what's happening. It could be gall bladder.

Cathrine, is that gorgeous dog in your avatar your dog?

Too funny. It is hard to suffer idiots.

OMG!!! Now I'm salivating and starving and I was just fine before I read this thread!!!!

Darn! I was hoping you'd say no so that I could reassure myself that it won't happen to me since I'm taking a multi-vitamin, extra calcium and getting 60-80 grams of protein a day. Where do you get your biotin? Maybe I should start that now.