DeLarla

Babs, you are the first person I ever heard that had such an extensive psyche eval. Just more proof that every single doctor is different. You should see the extensive testing they do in Mexico prior to surgery (NOT.) They take you to the lab for blood, then straight to the cardiologist for about an hour, then to the nutritionalist/psychologist/assistant for a video and small talk, then straight to surgery the same afternoon. My plane landed at noon and I was in recovery by 4:00 p.m.! Mexico does have it's benefits, that's for sure!

I always knew booze screws up your metabolism, and I also realize that barfing your guts up after a drunken suarez can cause slippage. But can the alcohol itself pickle your stomach and cause erosion? Thanks for all your answers. I like the comment about asking your doctor to back up with proof. I say this cuz I asked Lopez if fizzy carbonation causes pouch stretching, and he laughed and said "there's no proof." He said carbonated liquids pass right through to the bottom part of the stomach as do any liquids, and the only problem is when the gasses try to come back up, it causes discomfort. This is why I like to hear all the opinions, especially ones from different countries. Thanks all!

I've been lucky to some extent. My insurance covered a lot of my complications. I'm still stuck with several thousand in co-payments, but I could have been stuck with $30,000. Think "the squeaky wheel gets the oil." What I mean is to bark up your original surgeon's tree long enough and they might agree to help you out financially if you have complications by giving you reduced rates to some extent.

Never thought of it that way, but I've averaged about 1.35 lbs a week. I'll take that any day!

I gained the other 7 pounds... thanks a lot, soul sister.

Thanks, I know this stuff has been discussed a lot, but with the Band being so new, it's nice to get current info. One I forgot about - slippage: Any information on what causes slippage. I know we are supposed to avoid vomitting, but what if we get a stomach bug? What are the signs/symptoms, etc.

Wait a second here.... I didn't know Old Navy carried Plus sizes???? Wow, I gotta check that out. Congrads on your loss, that must feel amazing.

First, congrads on your decision and good luck with your surgery. But would you mind asking your surgeon some questions? We need some fresh opinions (in my stale opinion!) These things have been discussed many times here at LBT, but all the surgeons have different opinions, so what's the latest opinion on: 1. Carbonation: Does it cause erosion? Does it stretch the pouch? Or do we avoid it simply because it causes gas pains? 2. Alcohol: Does it cause erosion, or do we avoid it because it's empty calories? 3. Drinking before and after meals: How long to wait after eating? What are their reasons for these rules? 4. NSAIDs - is there any new information regarding them causing erosion? Any new info out there? Anything you can share would be greatly appreciated. I've had my band one year but I still get tons of different information, so I'm curious what today's docs are saying. THANKS! Oh, anyone can add to these questions.

Dramamine contains the same medicine as Benedryl. You can buy liquid Benedry, which slides right down with no problem. I adored Hawaii... if you are in your mushy stage, you could live off the macadamia ice cream and just spit out the nuts! You sound like me, I go on vacation to eat, but I also weighed over 300 pounds. What's more important? You say you're getting banded in early May and traveling late May? Most people feel good after 2 weeks (a lot of people feel better much sooner.)

How long have you been banded? May 5 will be one year. What do you eat each day? Usually a Protein shake for Breakfast, any dinner leftovers or tuna salad with crackers for lunch. For dinner, whatever hubby cooks on a dinner-salad plate, though my portions have gotten too large. Then I snack at night, which is something I'm working on not doing. How much do you eat? About a cup to 1 1/2 cups. Do you eat sweets? YES, TOO MANY.... but I know I need to stop. How much have you lost? 70 pounds Do you feel its worth it? YES

The psyche eval isn't a big deal. I don't know anyone that hasn't passed it. They just want to make sure you are mentally prepared to change your entire lifestyle. If they find out you are an alcoholic, for example, that's a problem since intoxicated people don't have good eating judgment or make wise choices (drunk folk often chow down cheeseburgers at 3:00 a.m.) Or if you tell them, "there's no way on earth I can eat slow" or "I'm not quitting my Saturday large cheese pizza" then you aren't psychologically ready to undergo weight loss surgery. You have to be willing to let go of old ways, which is why they do the psyche eval.

Maybe your spouse has deeper fears. I recently told my husband I need to lose 70 more pounds, but he doesn't want me losing any more than the 70 I already lost. Some spouses feel better with heavy husbands/wives because they don't like other people hitting on us. My husband was at least man enough to admit that he doesn't like other guys checking me out, but I won't let his fears get in the way of my dreams. Make sure your spouse knows that you are doing this for you, not for them. Tell spouse, "there's one person I love more than you - and that's me." As far as eating in restaurants, I have a problem because my husband eats so much faster than me, so I end up eating alone. Now I just nibble on what I can and take the rest home for later. It doesn't have to affect your good time though.

Wow, I was planning on using the WISH Center one day in the future when I actually had a port. But I won't go back to Mexico. I'd rather go to Ventura to see Dr. Billy, or I'd even travel to Texas at this point since it seems there are so many Texas girls that are thrilled with their surgeons. Or Portland for that matter! Or Utah. OR ALASKA!

The local band doctors in Vegas hold regular seminars. Their WLS center offers both Lap Band and Bypass, and the seminar discusses the pros and cons of each surgery. You might want to ask your local surgeons if they can recommend a seminar in your area (I understand most surgeons offer some type of seminar.) Here's my personal opinion after being banded a year: True or False? --- banding is better for large eaters, by-pass for those who eat normal amounts of junk food or sweet tooths. NEITHER. Once you have the band you can't eat large any more. Also, once you have the bypass you can't eat certain foods anymore, like chocolate for example, because your body isn't equipt to digest it, so you go into "dumping syndrome" where you get really sick and the offensive food comes out either end. After a period of time, you can retrain your body to eat certain foods. With the band, your intestines aren't changed so you digest just like before. True or False? --- banding has a higher long-term success due to the ability to re-fill versus a weight loss window. TRUE. The bypass cuts and changes your anatomy and leaves you with a small pouch. That pouch can't be adjusted. With the band, you can have a "fill" where additional saline is added to tighten the pouch. True or False? ---- you do not lose your hair with banding. FALSE: In the beginning, I lost a huge amount of hair but it grew back. They said the hair loss was from a sudden drop in weight (hormonal.) I'm not sure why bypass patients lose their hair (maybe from malnutrition.) With bypass, you absorb all your nutrients. With the bypass, the normal digestion process has been altered so you don't get all your nutrients since they don't get absorbed. True or false? --- banding requires much more will power and ability to avoid fattening high calory foods like chips, sweets, carbs. which could prevent any weight loss. FALSE: Both procedure require an enormous amount of willpower. These are just tools. They change the way our stomach feels, but we still need to use willpower to make better, healthy choices. True or False? ---- if you don't lose the weight within your 13-15 month period with by-pass, you are stuck since your body will have become efficient at working on less caloriesand make it near impossible to lose more. NOT SURE. I know people who have gained back all their weight after bypass. One girl told me she stretched her now pouch out so much that it could hold the same amount of food as before surgery. True or False? --- many people with banding only lose a small amout of weight in the first two years and often require up to four years to lose 100 or more pounds? TRUE: Most people lose most weight in the beginning, then it could take much more time to lose the rest. With the bypass, you lose a huge amount within the first year because the bypass is two surgeries in one: First they make a small pouch, but they also "re-wire" your intestines so that you don't digest the food and it passes out quickly. With the band you are absorbing all the nutrients from the foods you eat. With the band you can eat almost any type of food without having "dumping syndrome" but if you eat too fast or take a big bite it could cause a problem. Keep in mind, this is only one person's opinion. Good luck making a wise choice.

Wow, gone for a few days & there are 10 pages of new posts & no way I can read them all, but glad I found "Just Checking In." I'm alive but can't say much more than that. I'll be suffering "fun-overdose" from the Laughlin River Run for a month. I met Daisydoodle when I got back from Laughlin & was supposed to hook up again but I haven't heard from her. She's got bouncy hair - wrong, wrong, wrong (mine is straw.) Hi Penni, hi all.

Monica, Princess&The_Pea mentioned the Wish Center. Try using the "Search" button at the top of the page with the word, "Wish" and you might find some info. Let me know, I might want to use them one day. Thanks.

Don't do it! You are supposed to be on liquids or mushies for a few days! I think all docs have different rules, but most docs want you to take it easy for a few days. Good luck with your new fill. Hope it helps you shrinky dink a bunch.

I personally love Anwar - he makes me so calm & peaceful, but I think he's got an old soul. I never connected with any of the songs he chose so I expected him to be gone, but not before Scott. I adore Anwar's gentle nature. Even MSN wonders why Scott is still around. Here's a whole write up. http://g.msn.com/0MNBUS00/2?http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7578733&&CM=EmailThis&CE=1

I think there is a huge difference in taste. I adore sour cream, so plain yogurt doesn't even come close. However, I also love plain yogurt, which requires a more grow-up palet. If you can get used to the yogurt taste, then you probably won't miss the sour cream. Or mix both of them together for awhile to ease into yogurt, then eventually nix the sour cream altogether.

Sometimes it's almost like you have to suck on your food for it to totally liquify before swallowing. PBing on Jello and liquids isn't good. I almost PBd on a banana, but I didn't think I had to chew the banana as well as other foods. Are you sure you aren't swallowing even little bits of food? My surgeon said everything has to be a liquid consistency to get through, so even the smallest bits can cause problems. Other than that, I wish I had more help. But your weight loss must be remarkable if you can't eat anything, right? To me, restriction doesn't mean a full pouch, it means not being able to swallow because I feel too tight in my throat - like a near-PB.

"And it makes me mad when, we are watching tv and you see a movie star that has gained a couple of pounds and are a bit heavier and he makes a comment like "Wow, she's gotten really fat" OH I HATE THIS!!!! Howard Stearn calls Drew Barrymore, "Tubby." Damn, if I could be so fat as Drew. And Ryan Seacrest just last week on American Idol made a horrible fat joke about Kirsty Alley. What the F is wrong with the world? People are so judgemental, yet every single one of us has flaws and ugly habits. Bastards.

It's been too long since our last fun thread. Hmm, what game could we play here? How about best "busted naked" pictures. If you've never been busted naked, any "busted" story will do. Me: I grew up in sunny Southern California and spent my summers at the beach as the fat kid in shorts and big t-shirts. I never even owned a bathing suit. So when I bought my first home, I decided it's NAKED TIME for me. I skinny dip in my backyard, and if the neighbors don't like it, then they have no right looking over my 10 foot walls! One morning I was stading buck naked inside the house looking out the sliding glass door to the swimming pool thinking about taking a morning dip. Much to my surprise, three young boys were hoovering on top of the wall about to jump into my backyard (they apparently threw a toy over and were going to retrieve it.) Boy, you shoulda seen the looks on their faces staring at a naked 300 pounder!

Trish, I'm here, too, and I think about you all the time because my clothing exchange closet is completely out of control and NEEDS you to take it home! Can't wait to see you banded, but especially can't wait to see you in Las Vegas. Relax & say hi to the cutie from his gramma's neighbor!

Penni, why don't you stop staying in fancy hotels and spend that money on a Bandster Tour Bus? This way you can pick up bandsters and take them on tours to meet the rest of us. Geeze, do I have to think of everything? Trish, isn't she fun?

Always trying to look at the bright side here, but how many moms are lucky enough to have a caring daughter at their bedside? I hope she's better soon, but next time you better give me more notice to plan a getaway so you don't have to take on the burden of the world alone. She's a lucky mom.