Penni60

1 to 2 lbs a week is average. I slowed to .5 lb to 1 lb a week if that. Sometimes I don't lose at all. Sometimes I gain a pound or two then lose it the following week. I am 13 months out from the surgery too. I have lost a total of approx 55 lbs so far. Others have lost more and still others have lost less. Some have gained half back and others have lost over 100 in the first year. Everyone's metabolism, diet habits, committment, and circumstances are different and therefore the loss will vary.

OK take that pic off and put up the real pic of Kathy. That pic has to be your younger sister. You are NOT turning 40 that is not true. You look 29 in that pic.

1. Since I have always relied on food for comfort, am I going to have emotional issues with the lap band because my comfort blanket will be gone? The comfort blanket will be food no matter whether you get banded or not. I think most if not all of us use food or used food at one point as comfort. I know I did. And yes I still do. The thing with the band is you STILL have to make better choices of what foods you eat. The cheetos, fritos, ice cream, Cookies, candies, sodas, milkshakes, etc still go down really easy with the band. Yes, we don't or can't eat as much as we would have without the band, but we have to consciously make better choices. Also, find something else to direct that stress when you want to grab a cookie for comfort. 2. Is lap band surgery an extreme measure that I shouldn't be using when I am probably only 35 to 40 pounds overweight? I will stop just short of saying you shouldn't have the band. I would never want to make that decision for anyone else. If I were you and only had 40 lbs to lose I would look at my eating habits and what kind of exercise I am getting. Maybe just a change in your diet will help stimulate the weight loss. I know you are struggling with it much like we all are, so I hear your frustration. Discipline is the hardest thing to accomplish when we are overweight. 3. I suffer from migraines, would I have problems taking medication for my headaches, such as Excedrin, if I have the surgery done? I too suffer from migraines. I can take capsule Excedrin with no problems. I had to break them in half at first but now I can take them without any complications. If you eliminate some things in your diet you might find the migraines will either go away or diminish in frequency. I got rid of Equal and my migraines almost disappeared. Just a thought. Hope this helped.

OK guys I just bought my plane ticket for New York. I arrive at JFK on Sept 22nd Thursday in the afternoon. Friday, the 23rd, I am willing to hook up with whoever wants anytime that day. Taxi's r us. dinner is a must for all bandsters in the area. We should decide where though and soon. Just in case we need to make reservations. Saturday, the 24th, will be the walk in the morning then free most likely at noon. If no one volunteers to open their house to the bandsters then I am gonna do a tour of the art museums and possibly catch a play that night. Any takers? I know "Hairspray" is in town. I saw it out here in LA and I LOVED it. Sunday, the 25th, is a rest day for me. I might go and do a walk around town but then again I might just chill at the hotel. Monday, the 26th, I am flying home.

Isn't she just the cutest thing?????

Awww Paula, I know the feeling. I had to move my 4 kids when they were young several times. They all complained but they adjusted very fast. I made a game out of letting them pick the colors for their rooms. They had a blast. The room my two oldest daughters shared was purple and pink, one was yellow and the babies room (my 17 yr old now) was blue. THey had cute flowers and butterflies and birdies painted on it. I of course got permission from the landlord for the artwork. I got the erasable crayons. They could change the artwork at their whim. And the girls each had their own side of the room. Pink on one side and Purple on the other. Too funny. ANyway, this is a gift. A beautiful and loving gift. It allows some pressure to be taken off both you and hubby. Think about how much happier you guys will be when you can take that mortgage payment and "do" stuff with it if you chose. HUGS Kids are elastic and will bounce back.

Not entirely sure how feasible that could be but I guess anything is possible. Is your surgeon that found the hernia a band surgeon?

Although we LOVE to hear about everyone's progress please start a new thread so we don't hijack this one. I have been guilty of that in the past. OK now about that East Coast Bash. LOL!!!

Dog: Dalmation Personality: A breed of incredible endurance, able to travel at a moderate pace almost indefinitely. It is deeply affectionate, intelligent, and energetic. Needs plenty of exercise and is prone to severe deafness in old age. WHAT???

I am surprised they placed the port in that area knowing you had a hernia there. You should get both fixed immediately. Don't get me wrong it isn't life threatening it is life bothersome. They should have fixed the hernia while they were in there. I am surprised they didn't.

OK we need to get this thing structured. Dates are Sept 23, 24, 25 (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday) Some people will be arriving Friday the 23rd and some will have arrived on Thursday the 22nd (that would be me). We need to decide where to meet up on Friday for dinner. Those that live in the area please pick some place easy to get to and moderately priced for around $15 to $25 per person and is band friendly. Friday 23rd: 6pm, 7pm, or 8pm Dinner Saturday 24th: 7am Walk from Obesity located in Manhattan, NY -- Some are participating (ME). That will end around 11am so the rest of the day is free for sightseeing or meeting up at someones house locally. Or whatever we decide (suggestions please). Sunday 25th: Some will fly home and others will fly home the next day. (ME). LOL!!!! OK That is my suggested itinerary. We need some of the local bandsters to come up with a place to meet on Friday and some place to meet on Saturday after the walk. I am going to stay in NYC somewhere haven't decided yet. I can get a taxi wherever you wanna meet up. I just need to know details. Speak people!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am 44 and my bmi was around 45. I have skin that is still sagging. I know that I have to either have plastic surgery or live with the sagging. No amount of exercise will change this for me.

I haven't really explored this yet but I just found that Viactiv, the company that has calcium chews now has Multivitamin chews as well. I tried the multi's and they taste really good. Just chew them up like the calcium ones. On the Flinstone Vits I would assume to take two. BUt read the label and see what the ingredients and concentration is that should guide you.

Is the surgeon that looked at it a band surgeon? Most of the time they don't understand what is going on with the band. I would get a second opinion about the surgery. My incisions all drained. Not unsual. I had to have a port revision surgery but that was because my port tilted. You don't want someone messing with the band or port unless they have experience with it. Just my humble opinion.

I do sushi quite often. I can't do the seaweed though. I didn't used to be able to do the rice but now I can. I just order it and then take it apart and eat everything but the seaweed. BAD PB episode on seaweed. Awful. Everything else is GREAT.

Keep us posted. We worry when we don't hear anything. HUGS!!!!!!!!

If you pills are no bigger in diameter than a pencil eraser then you can swallow them. I have been able to take capsules and tablets that are a little bigger than the eraser without problems. The MAIN thing to remember is to drink LOTS of water with the pills. You don't want them dissolving in the pouch where they can do more damage. Get those suckers flushed through into the lower stomach where they won't do as much harm. DRINK LOTS OF WATER. At least 12 oz of liquid with the pills.

OK!! Someone call her and let her know she has waited LONG enough to keep us in the suspense. That is just not fair. We need details. LOVE YA TRISH HUGS

:{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{Christina}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}} Awww that sucks big time. Keep us posted on the outcomes. WHen you getting banded? Where? Who? You know all that good gorey stuff we love to know. HUGS again

Day 2? I thought we started today. UGH!! Day late and a dollar short!!! OK Pedometer on Walking done Steps completed: 7459 How is that for accuracy? LOL!!!

Keep the neosporin away from the glue areas. It will eat it away. Wait you said she was three weeks out from surgery? Her incisions should all be healed right? Are they leaking or weeping? Are they hot or warm to touch them? Does she have any other symptoms? One more thing, can you get a picture of them and post to the site?

If we are talking about a bladder catheter then I didn't have one for either of my surgeries. One surgery was in Mexico and the other was in California. Neither required a catheter. I don't think it is absolute you have one. The surgery is fairly short and putting one in just doesn't make sense to me unless you have some unforeseen issues that make putting one in necessary. You should really check with your doctor about the catheter.

Did they use stitches or the glue to close the stitches? If they used the glue then she is most likely allergice or I should say sensitive to that. The symptoms should decrease over time. I had the same reactions on my stitches but they used the glue on my incisions. I used Hydrocortisone cream on the itchiness. Just keep it away from the actual incisions till they heal. If it gets worse she should call her doctor. She should call her doctor to get an OK to use the hydrocortisone cream as well.

Dr. Helmuth Billy 124 N. Brent St Ventura, CA 93003 805-648-2227

I do believe it is Vera. What fun!!!!!!!!!!! Esmeralda, I do remember that. Send me your phone number in a PM and I will give you a call.