DeLarla

Janie, I just noticed you got your band the day after me. Where did you get it? Did we pass in the halls of the Oasis of Hope and not even bump into each other? If you were in Tijuana, yes, that was me in the sombrero playing Cielito Lindo next to that donkey on Ave. Revolucion!

Betty, that site offered great information - the best I've seen yet. I've asked lots of people about the IRS question, and I finally have answers. You should start a separate post - great site. Thanks!

Donali, "s**t" is reserved for small projects like wallpapering. You've got to pull out the big guns like the Mo-Fos and the C-S'rs!

I'm pretty impressed with my sister's computer skills. She used to erase 50 pounds off my pictures because she was embarrassed of me. Now she happily created this side-by-side. A month before my band I had a photo taken of me, my little brother and my sister. I was 3 times larger than her, so she used her computer software to make me smaller. I was really pissed off at her because she's done that before. She refused to accept my weight (not my problem, hers!) I'm gonna ask her for that pic now before she skimmed my fat off. Thanks for all the comments - I wish everyone would post more pics cuz I'm a big picture lover. Which means there will be DAILY postings of our pictures as the Vegas Bash progresses. I have a digital and my computer is always ready to go, so when Donali and Penni start arm wrestling, you'll get immediate blow-by-blows!

Let me see if this works... my sister combined both pictures so you can see them side by side.

Wiz, you should start a whole new post about what you wrote. I've read it a hundred times, but the way you put it really hits it home. The fact that water fluctuates makes us look like we've lost weight (even on weekly weigh-ins) when all we've really lost or gained is water. Great point. I weigh myself every day, but I only chart my weight loss once a month on my band anniversary. I can gain 5-7 pounds during my period alone, so any weighing around that time can't be accurate. I'm glad my home repair story helped. That's the only thing that keeps me sane when I plateau. A few weeks ago I tore my house to shreds to clean it. You would have thought I was demolishing it because I had everything torn out of the closets, but the end result was worth the wait.

Thanks girlies! My sister is a computer-type person and she somehow combined one picture showing the before and after pictures side-by-side. I'm trying to figure out how to post that instead of having to scroll down. I'm just not very computery.

Hey, next time you don't see my big mouth around here, rattle my cage and tell me to look at some new posts. How did I miss this one? I'm getting on my knees and bowing to you. I wish I could be there but since I can't I do have some very helpful advice since my husband is in construction: Say the "F" word a lot and throw your tools. That's what Chris does. Sometimes yell "Co**suck*r" as you throw the tools. Place a lot of blame on others like the wood suppliers and the glass company. It will be beautiful in no time. I'm so flipping impressed.

My body plateaus on a regular basis. I never lose a pound or two a week. Instead, I weigh the same for several weeks, then I suddenly drop 2 pounds or so. I'm not in a hurry to lose, as long as I lost some. Even if I only lose 5 pounds a month, that's 60 pounds in one year, and the years are flying by. I try to think of plateaus like household repairs. I'm having my pool replastered, so right now it's a disaster because it's in the middle of a plateau. It's going to take the workers a couple weeks to get it up and running, but during this time progress is being made daily. That's how I feel about plateaus - even though the scale doesn't show a loss, my body is doing things internally that will eventually purge some weight. If you are eating small, drinking lots of Water and exercising, your body has no choice but to get below 200. But a watched pot never boils, so stop staring at that scale!

Whip, I know it's your choice, but I gotta shove my nose in your business. Before my surgery, I read a lot of posts, and most people went through this procedure with no complications. I particularly followed one woman, a dentist who came to my house to tell me all about her experience. Listening to her story made the surgery sound no worse than a root canal. She was up and about with no complications. Even though I'm extrememly disgusted with my surgeon's lack of aftercare, I'm still glad I chose him based on his years of experience. Having placed so many bands, he's come across more than his fair share of Operating Room emergencies, unforeseen problems, aftercare issues, etc. A doctor that's only performed 40 bands hasn't faced many complications. It's not just the surgery you have to be concerned with, it's problems during and after the surgery. Maybe he's done 40 bands, but how many emergencies has he had to face and deal with? I know you're looking forward to your surgery, but I have to agree with Sue. Let's say you're trying to park that 18 wheeler and everything's going good, then another 18 wheeler speeds in front of your path and fights you for the spot - then what? Now I'll shut up. Be good to yourself.

Darcy, I'm totally annoyed at myself for not taking the time to address each of you indivdually! But I'm at work so I gotta read thru the posts and zip responses as fast as I can. Betty.... my heart just took a leap and I lost my breath for you... only 12 days left. I'm so thrilled that I'm not dying any more, so anyone getting closer to their surgery makes me all giddy. I hope it goes smooth for you. Teresa, sucks, totally sucks about the chemistry. My 2 cents about your fill is to hold off. You've got to allow plateaus - it's just part of life. I was totally depressed when I didn't lose anything for a solid month, but then a couple pounds came off all at once. Let your body adjust, chill out, then re-think the fill. Cause I said so : ) Beca, the whole "DH" think you use took me awhile, but I'm thinking you mean Dear Husband, which is totally darling. Penni, blah blah blah, I already talk your ear off! Michelle - well, she just rocks cuz she sent me more clothes. Now I almost called in sick because I couldn't decide what to wear - too many choices. I've never, ever had so many clothes in my entire life. I HATE shopping, so I'm digging it! Thank you! As far as "my" weekly challenge, this week I challenged myself to call someone each night. I missed Wednesday because I got home too late and didn't want to wake everyone up, but I made up for it by calling 2 people last night (Michelle, calling you counts even if it was an accident.) So I didn't pig out, althought I did have a few bites of late night snacks out of hunger... bad mistake. No matter how hungry I am, I can't eat an hour before bed or I feel like I'm choking and I don't sleep well. Boss is coming gotta go!

Darcy, I'm totally annoyed at myself for not taking the time to address each of you indivdually! But I'm at work so I gotta read thru the posts and zip responses as fast as I can. Betty.... my heart just took a leap and I lost my breath for you... only 12 days left. I'm so thrilled that I'm not dying any more, so anyone getting closer to their surgery makes me all giddy. I hope it goes smooth for you. Teresa, sucks, totally sucks about the chemistry. My 2 cents about your fill is to hold off. You've got to allow plateaus - it's just part of life. I was totally depressed when I didn't lose anything for a solid month, but then a couple pounds came off all at once. Let your body adjust, chill out, then re-think the fill. Cause I said so : ) Beca, the whole "DH" think you use took me awhile, but I'm thinking you mean Dear Husband, which is totally darling. Penni, blah blah blah, I already talk your ear off! Michelle - well, she just rocks cuz she sent me more clothes. Now I almost called in sick because I couldn't decide what to wear - too many choices. I've never, ever had so many clothes in my entire life. I HATE shopping, so I'm digging it! Thank you! Boss is coming gotta go!

Y si, el es muy guapo!

Sue, can you say that again like you're talking to a 6 year old? Am I hearing you correctly, that I can fly into San Antonio then take a long drive to Montery? My best friends live in San Antonio, and we owe them a visit. How long of a drive are you talking about? I doubt I'll ever go there because I'm not sure if I'll ever get a new port. If I can hold on to my "occasional" restriction, then the thought of another surgery can sit way in the back of my mind. My incision is a bitch. It's not too bad, but it bothers me every day. There's a hard cyst under the skin, and today the wound was actually hardened over for about an hour, then it started leaking again. I've showed it to enough doctors that weren't concerned, so I'm just sticking with my instincts and believing it will eventually go away. But I sure like everything I hear about Rumbauh and would like to know all my options. Thanks!

I wish I could meet this Dr. Rumbauh. All I hear is good things. Where is Monterey, anyway (in comparison to TJ?) Do you fly into Mexico, or into San Diego?

Leatha, thanks... like I said, lapse of memory. But my doc said 55-60 grams.

Carolyn, I fixed this so it has the grand total... hope you don't mind. 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 -- 61 lbs Total = 1609.75

I brought one large bottled Water and one bottle Gatoraid. I liquid fasted the day before my surgery, so by the time I got to recovery at 4pm, I hadn't eaten in 2 days. All they give you is water to sip after the surgery, but they let me sip my Gatorade instead, and it was heavenly. I didn't need the water since they had bottled water right outside my room. It took me all night to finish the Gatorade, then in the morning the brought me tea with honey and apple juice. Leave a little extra room in that duffle bag for things you're gonna buy in TJ. If you have old shorts and a crappy t-shirt to wear there, you can just toss them in the trash when they give you a gown to lighten your load along with your old undies. I left my old granny undies & bra in the trash (they were pretty big so they lightened the load!) Every bit of room helped. This isn't a beauty contest so who cares what you look like when you get there, right? I traveled alone, so I had to carry my bag. I even wish I'd left my book behind, because I never had time to read it. You'll most likely be having surgery with a bunch of other band patients, so you'll all become a little family. I spent my 3 days visiting my band buddies, and they spent their time sitting in my room with me. So I never even picked up my magazine or book - just the TV and visiting newly banded friends. Bring a camera - you may bond with someone and want a before pic together!

My doctor recommended 55-60, but check with your nutritionalist because I have memory problems! So if you're able to get that much in without Protein shakes, then you don't need the shakes. I think I'm giving up shakes because La Madam told me about some milk-type product (already forgot the name) that's loaded with protein. So I can just pour a glass of it instead of getting the blender out... now if I can only remember what she called it, something like Hood???? It's in the mild section of the grocery store and is loaded with protein. I gotta find it! I gave up the Protein Shakes and have just been having a glass of skim milk before I leave in the morn. Much easier.

Zoe, my girlfriend in Vegas flew to Utah to have her tubes untied because of the whopping price difference. No, the local doctors don't even give you tickets to a Vegas show. It's a meat market! There were only 3 band doctors here. Fisher & Adkinson were a team - then the third is Teng. But I just saw a commercial that there's a 3rd guy with Fisher & Adkinson now. So looks like we have 4 weightloss docs in Vegas. Fisher's practice requires a mandatory seminar before they'll even talk to you about surgery. I attended the 3 hr seminar, where they compared Lapband to Bypass and gave all the pros and cons. It's a meat market - there were a couple hundred desperate people at that seminar (and it's held regularly so thousands want surgery and the numbers are growing.)

I'm gonna do like Andy Dufrane in Shawshank Redemption and write a letter a week because we all deserve professional makeovers on national TV! I'm pretty sure Oprah can afford it.

Good for you that you decided to do the diet... we'll all be here to support you if you feel the need to eat. But go easy on yourself. Remember, my doc told me to lose weight before the surgery. But I didn't - I gained. He wasn't concerned though, so it probably is just something that makes the surgery easier, but quite doable to an experienced surgeon since mine had no problem. My BMI was around 47 (or was it 43? I can't remember) but I weighed 313.

TELEPHONE - get it in order. I have Verizon and my cell doesn't work at all in Mexico. There's a phone in the room, but I wasn't able to make long distance calls on it. You can stop at any drug store in TJ and buy a phone card, that way you can use the phone in your room if your cell doesn't work. Back up and bring the bra. I wore my crummiest bra there, then threw it in the trash before surgery. It is still hot and clammy in Mexico, so my boobs were sweating underneath so I had to put paper towels under them cuz it was really uncomfy. The tanks with shelf bras are okay, too, but nothing tight. I only brought one tote bag, and I'm glad I did. Everyone else was lugging and wheeling tons of useless stuff. I wore an outfit and brought one xtra baggy shirt and shorts. And I brought one pair of booty-socks, which I lived in to keep my feet clean for walking around (instead of always slipping on my sandals.) Do not buy any gold in TJ - it's not real. They even do the acid test to prove it's 14k - I was a little tipsy and bought 4 charms that are now green. And don't pay full price for anything! Talk them down. I got about $500 worth of stuff for $99.00. If the price is $20.00, offer $3. They'll ask for $15, give them $8. Wave the cash in front of their faces - cash speaks volumes there. Also, you seem to be staying a long time after your surgery. I was only there 3 days, while the 5 other girls having surgery were there 4. They were all jealous that I got to go home, because they were all ready to go home but had airline tickets. One girl was glad she drove cuz she split a day early. So since you'll have extra time, maybe it's a good idea to bring a couple extra things. But I bought so much crap in TJ that I didn't need to bring anything!

I'm sending this to Oprah, Maury, and Sally. Any objections?

If the surgery in Las Vegas was a few thousand more, I'd have done it locally. But it was around $23,000 here compared to $7,500 in Mexico - big difference! You also have to keep in mind that Mexican doctors have been placing bands for nearly a decade, while it's only been approved in the US for under 3 years (according to the information that's been passed around to me.) So the Mexican doctors have loads more experience.