hagerteresa

Welcome hopeful, Nice to meet you. I don't think technical expertise is a requirement in this group. Good to have you. Best of luck getting the band. Teresa;)

You POOR thing! Liquids for 6 days! That would be gawd-awful! They gave me juice and jello the day after surgery and they really hit the spot. It will get a little tough again towards the end of the liquid phase but you will appreciate the new additions so much more. I doubt anything will be as bad as this last week has been for you. Keep your chin up! Your almost there! Teresa

Good luck tomorrow!!! Yes breathing tubes are normal. Hope all goes well and can't wait to hear from you when your on the other side. Teresa

They are all adorable. I really want to post some pictures too but I'll have hubby help me this weekend. I too am technically challenged. Teresa

Someone said something earlier in this thread about the band installation perhaps getting easier and cheaper one day. I laughed because a lot of my family is heavy and I wish we all could have it done. We have local spay/ nueter clinics for cats in town and they just pull up in a vet rigged RV and rotate cats in all day long for free or very cheap: I always day dream about the band procedure being done that way. The surgery time really isn't typically any longer than a kitty spay so why not???? My family always cracks up about my day dreams. Teresa

I am with you marie, I think mbz is acting irresponsibly too and should follow her doctors advice. They are trained! I am a little nervous of getting my first small fill whenever I need one, I would never go in and demand a monsterous sized fill. My band only holds 4 cc's I think. I was always told to get fills as needed so you don't overly stress your system or run out of fill room before goal. Evidently mbz thinks she is smarter than the doctors. Hope it all works out for you and you don't cause any irrepairable damage to your system mbz. Good luck to you, Teresa

Jeez, I never even want my boobs. LOL. I always thank the luck gods for not giving me big boobs. Penni- do you think we could come and stay with you maybe the thursday night before going to vegas? How far is vegas from your house? That would give us a good layover place if it works for you. On the way there we plan on taking it kind of easy and maybe stopping a night or two but on the way back I think we'll probably do a straight thru kind of thing. Let me know if it works, Teresa

I will get a new picture on this next weekend when hubby can help me. That is funny people know Idabell. Nobody else has ever heard of it. My grandfather is a pastor of his own church their and the whole clans last name is Atnip. Teresa

Hmmm, Now why didn't we plan our vegas party at Penni's??? An extra house!!! Holy crap! Trust me, you'll get your turn. LOL, Teresa

Hi folks, Weighed this morning and my weekend free food fest didn't seem to slow me down. Told ya, it must have been all that walking... Down 3.2 lbs, total of 52 lbs in 12.5 weeks. Best of luck to all and until next week... Teresa

I met a 30 year old Duodenal switch patient in town the other day. She has lost 150 lbs in 10 months and still has about another 80 to go. She started at 404 lbs. I was excited to meet and see her because I wanted to see how her body has handled it. She looked fabulous! Yes she did have loose skin but the worst looking spot was under her arms. Compared to how she looked before, she looks BEAUTIFUL now! I am 30 also, started at 362 lbs and have about 200 lbs to loose so I wanted to get an idea of what to expect. If I look 1/2 as good as she does I'll be thrilled. Sure, eventually I still may want a tummy tuck but you should at least wait till you are at goal for 1 year. I have a long time to worry about how to pay for it. Besides since I am losing weight slightly slower than this girl, than who knows? Maybe mine will be tighter. I also do water aerobics so I am hoping that helps too. Best wishes, Teresa

Hi Kim, Alex has a fabulous sample letter she used to fight her insurance company over the same arguement and she won. The letter is in the thread: Insurance. It is very professional but she said it needs a little updating if people want to use it now. Best of luck, Teresa

Lisa, you are definitely going to want to get another port sooner or later. Ask Dr. Kuri what he suggests you do before that surgery to boost your immune system. What about antibiotics prior to surgery, etc. Your healing situation sucks! Has your primary physician seen your incisions? Mine was the best when I was having leaking problems. I hate antibiotics overall and tossed the ones I got in mexico directly in the garbage as soon as I got home because they made me WANT to puke everytime I took them. I always heal good so I thought that was fine. I had that major leakage problem and went to my family practitioner and he instantly put me on another 2 weeks of a different antibiotic and best yet, it didn't taste like poop. I took those and everything healed fine after that. My doctor just did NOT want to take any chances with such deep wounds. Hope yours heal up soon. Teresa

And I always thought my family was crazy....LOL. I mentioned early that I want to make/bring prizes too. I think we should do all kinds of fun game/ activities. 3 legged race anyone?!? I cannot wait for october. Lisa, what are the temps like down there in early october? I am putting my money on you too Lisa, so don't let me down;) . Teresa

Pasta works fine for me but I haven't had a fill yet. Don't need one yet. If your on the mushy phase just blend it up. It will be fine! Teresa

Leatha, you really are awesome! I got my lap band book but I can't find that list that you posted of typical banded feelings and responses. Did you get that from the book? Thanks, Teresa

Job well done Michelle. You amaze me!!! Keep up the good work! Teresa

Congratulations Alex!!! Nice photos and love your family. You are blessed. Teresa:)

I seriously doubt you are but.... thought I would toss the possibility out there. Why couldn't you get pregnant before? Were you heavy then? You might talk to your gyn about the possibility of needing birth control as you lose weight unless you know your husband shoots blanks. Teresa

Hi Darcy, I hope you feel better soon. Don't know what could be causing your pain. A couple of weeks ago I was getting sharp pains in my lower tummy below my belly button but it seemed to work itself out within an hour or so and haven't had it again since. Our bowels are delicate things. Who knows... Anyway sure hope you feel better soon. Take it easy, Teresa xoxo

Maybe your pregnant! LOL... I was just reading in that new band book (I finally got my copy) about the possibility of women suddenly having an easier time getting pregnant with weight loss. Did you read my post about now having the 2 1/2 year old every other weekend now? Boy is she the cutest most girly thing. Its our new roommates baby. Didn't want to get your hopes up about pregnancy but wanted to toss it out as a possibility. Do you use birth control? So much for holding out on him... LOL. Sucker. :Bunny Teresa

Hi Maureen, Glad to hear your worst fears weren't real. Now you can get on with getting it fixed if its broken somewhere. I was hoping everything would work out for you. Teresa;)

Alex, that was the sweetest story. Your uncle sounds like a dear. I love my uncle too and he was one of the first people I confided in about the band. He married my husband and I five years ago too. Always has had a special place in my heart. Your uncle sounds the same to you. So proud of you and keep up the good work. We love ya, Teresa;)

Hi Trish, Nice to meet you. I was banded 5/8/04 and haven't had a fill yet. It sounds like you have approached yours the most logically yet. Good job. I too don't want to be over-filled when I do get a fill. It makes me a little nervous. I am still losing steadily and on occassion PB because I had a loss of brain function and try to rush my food. I figure if I am still restricted enough that I have to be so careful chewing and I get full easily still, I must not need a fill yet. Fine by me. Keep up the good work. Isn't March a nice month? My birthday is march 3 and I have always loved having it then. Anyway best wishes, Teresa

Debra, that is a wonderful picture!!! Pictures like that are what inspires me. Keep up the good work! Teresa;)