DeLarla

It is quite normal to start feeling better after a few days, then to feel worse than ever for a few more. I felt the same way. I felt pretty good after five days, then WHAM, felt like hell for another week. I posted the same message, because it scared me, and I learned that a lot of people go through the same thing. Some people snap back and go to work after a few days. Not me! Some of us take our time healing and get worse before getting better. I got lots of suggestions for things to do to ease my discomfort, but nothing worked except my heating pad. I was never in any pain, just felt really lousy and had horrible bloating, gas, diarreah - general grossness. By the way, "Misty Breeze" is on the radio as I'm typing.

I'll start a Before & After pictures thread, then maybe Alex can move your pic there? Alex? A guy named Rich in the UK contacted me because he's doing research for his girlfriend, Lu. Lu is an obese 25 yr old who is afraid of the Band. But Rich said she's hugely inspired by the before and after pics. I think it will be a great thread.

Your pics got me all choked up. Not much left of Big Ethel, is there? Amazing, great job!

Yesterday I posted a thread joking about giving myself a fill. I really didn't fill my band, all I did was eat really salty salsa in order to get bloated so that I could get some restriction. I deleted that thread though, because it was a bad, bad idea. I'm sorry if I spread a new bad habit of eating salt to get restriction, that wasn't my intention. Meanwhile, last night I had a hard time sleeping. My bod was really feeling the effects of the salt. I have carpal tunnel syndrome. Last year I had one hand surgically corrected, but all that Water retention had me up all night with dead hands and arms. Water retention makes my carpal tunnel and other aches and pains much worse. Please don't eat salt for restriction, it was bad advice on my part.

Aftercare is a HUGE issue. The surgery is the easy part, it's all the Band maintenance and aftercare that gets tricky. The band is a very high maintenance tool (in my opinion) considering you'll never know how many fills you need or if/what complications you might run into.

Kelly, your secret is safe here!

Sept. 2 & 3 Kylie Penni Sept. 9 & 10 Greg Neicy Blossom DeLarla (this weekend works best for me but I'm flexible)

I agree 100% with Penni. I think our bods know how much they want to weigh. My mother was super slender till she retired. If you think it's hard having a skinny sister, try being fat with a thin mother - torture. But she recently admitted to me that she was practically anorexic to keep herself looking that way. She admitted she was sick all the time. She had constant hunger pains, dizzy spells, black outs, missed periods. She wasn't skinny, just slender. Now she's a Vegan, her only pigouts are from whole grains and veggies, yet she weighs 200 pounds at 5'10". I am stuck right around 250 now, but like Penni, I can climb steps and walk fast without dying. I can lose more weight, but I feel too hungry and deprived. I hoped that a fill would keep me from getting hungry, but so far, no luck.

You sound like how I felt during the first couple weeks. I was so sick with diarreah that my local doc was convinced I picked up some horrible Mexican bug. She even tested me for everything she could think of, but the results were all negative. I like to think the diarreah is simply cleansing all the toxic waste that's built up over the years. I didn't have any stomach pain though. I treated myself to a new Kingsize heating pad, which helped the shoulder pains, then I'd switch it to my lower and upper back for all the other discomforts. The first time I was allowed soup was a heavenly experience. Cream of chicken blended to get the chunks out... very nice. And lowfat fudgsicles, too. Good luck on your journey.

Wow, Intant, you sound like Superman (or Superwoman?) You had a great recovery! I can't imagine going back to work in a couple days. And your loss is amazing. Good work!

Babs, are you talking about Kuri's Vegas bash? We need to call ours the Mini Vegas Bash so we don't confuse them.

Joking or not, I don't want to be the one that started this sick new behavior! Now where did I put my salt lick?

No wonder I'm so cranky... I'm all bloated!

I envy your restriction! I can eat almost anything as long as I chew, but a lot of people also have problems with rice, pasta, and even crackers.

Hi Frank. Did Sanchez give you and your wife Inamed bands? I know two people that had surgey with Dr. Sanchez, who implanted non-FDA approved bands that are larger than the Inamed's. I just talked to both of them this week, and one of them has problems with the tube and doesn't know where to get parts for the band Sanchez gave her. Just curious if he changed to Inamed.

I'm impressed with all the homework you've already done. Good job! Meanwhile, there's a recent thread here that discusses the different prices you'll pay in Mexico. I asked my surgeon why the rates vary so much, and he told me the price is largely based on which facility you chose. There are many different surgical centers and hospitals to choose from. But the most important thing for a guy like you that has a high BMI, is to make sure the facility you choose has an ICU. The difference in LabBand prices will vary by thousands of dollars - the same surgeon will charge one patient thousands less (or more) depending where they do the surgery. I learned that anyone with a high BMI shoud make sure the facility they chose has an ICU unit. The higher the BMI, the bigger possiblity of complications. I just found out that two of the very popular Mexican surgeons, who both work in very nice and new facilities, do not have Intensive Care Units in their surgical centers. Good luck to you. Make good choices and you'll be very happy with your Band.

Hang in there girl. Make sure to get that name changed soon.

You may be eating too fast. You describe exactly what happens to me if I take a too big of a bite or eat too fast. I can eat anything, including small amounts of bread, but I have to eat certain things like chicken and breads super, super slow, and small tiny bites. And I can't eat dry chicken, I have to use dipping sauce like barbeque or salsa. It is very, very painful, that's for sure. Listen to your band, it knows best.

I just got this and thought it appropriate for this thread: If you've wondered why, but couldn't figure out what the letters stood for, it is about time you became informed: (A) Almost Boobs. (:cool: Barely there. © Can't Complain! (D) Dang! (DD) Double dang! (E) Enormous! (F) Fake. (G) Get a Reduction! (H) Help me, I've fallen and I can't get up!

Ethel, first, please change your name to one that flatters you, okay? Second, I think you are one lucky girl. Slippage can be repaired. Erosion can't. I've already been through 3 band surgeries, and I still have a problem wound that won't heal. I'm rejecting my port (again) and one day I'll need my band removed. Slippage isn't bad news, it's just another bump in the road. You'll be fixed in no time. Good luck to you.

You just reminded me of last year's Pity Party, with Darcy knocking on doors asking everyone on her block to turn the lights on so she could pretend she's on the Vegas Strip! Too funny. Greg, stop the pity. Nobody planned this for a holiday weekend, it's a democracy with two choices to vote on. So far the votes are even, so quitcherbitchen till the all the fat ladies sing. So far there aren't too many responses especially since I posted that the Kuri bash is coming up, so don't get your Speedo in a bunch yet, okay?

Gee, thanks, Paula. Now I won't be able to sleep till I have them. And I WILL have them. All I saw was the title of the thread and I got all giddy.

"I don't trust another person to be me as well as I do it." I love this line. This is my favorite quote right now. Trish, learn from it. You have to treat yourself like Number 1. Tell your husband that you love yourself more than you love him and refuse to listen to his insults. It's so easy to judge others. I look at my husband's smoking in disgust but then I hurt deeply for him because he hates it. He's been smoking since he was in his mom's womb. She smoked during pregnancy and nursing, so his addiction runs so deep that he feels tortured that he can't quit. He's tried quitting as many times as I've tried dieting. He's gone a couple months without smoking only to smoke more and more. Our addiction to compulsive, unhealthy overeating has us all in the same boat. Some people get Bands and do incredibly well, while others, like me, lose only half the weight and still struggle with the mental urge to continue eating past necessity. If you want the Band as bad as you say you do, then you'll get the Band. I wanted it so bad that I took a loan out against my house. I'm 42 years old and only have $12.00 in my checking account because we were not in a financial position for me to be banded (we just bought a beautiful new home, remodeled the kitchen and pool, bought cars, etc.) But I wanted the Band, so I did whatever I could to get it. It would be nice to feel financially secure, but having my band is much nicer. I wanted to die last year because I was so fat and out of control. Nothing could stop me from eating. We all understand your pain. I think every Bandster is required to understand this pain just to get through the approval process. This surgery isn't for someone that wants to lose 30 pounds - it's for those of us that wear your shoes every single day. And please re-read what Alex wrote about the numbers. I never had a "numbers" goal. My only goal was to be happy and healthy. I met that goal. I just recently posted my goal weight of 213 pounds because I hoped that by seeing how close I was, I might be able to re-up my motivation to quit my nighttime eating. And any normal person would see the 213 pounds as a "before" weight. So be realistic about this; if you want it, you'll have it.

Listen up people... I found out that Dr. Kuri is throwing his annual Las Vegas bash pretty soon. I don't know the exact date, but I met with the Vegas girls, who told me last year it was a blast. He puts on a huge ordeal, and there's an enormous clothing exchange, and last year there were 100 bandsters. So, does everyone want to re-coordinate our little bash to coincide with Kuri's? I really loved having all you guys at my house. I'm not sure what days/times Kuri's bash is. Can anyone find out more?

There ya go, Betty. I think the world would benefit if all women posted a hormonal cycle! I should put that ticker up on the inside of hubby's toolbox. Warning, PMS alert, warning!