JosieK

hi i joined match.com before being banded but hid my profile. i "unhid" it when i was size 16 because my niece took a headshot of me where i didnt look fat. i wanted to practice. i talked to guys but delayed meeting any till i was size 14. the first guy i met was a mucky muck surgeon down here that made me feel like s*&t about my size. so i went back into my shell until i was size 10/12. i'm now engaged and getting married to a wonderful guy (he's eye candy) but he doesnt care about my size.... i'd like to say size doesnt matter but it did to me....so i'm definitely grateful for my band. i wouldnt have been able to do it without it. josie

hi mimi, so glad you are doing better..... i like you need my coffee...or else i get a big fat headache. sounds like you are on the mend but go slow..... josie

Good luck ashley with your band. you can get alot of good information on this site. if you need any help...please just ask. josie

hi everyone, glad to see Marchies '07 are still around. i didnt know about the july "marchie" thread until today. so i searched to see if we had an august thread....i miss not being in contact with people from our month. thank you mrs H for starting this. we will always be the marchies and we are all at different points in our "band-journey" so you are definitely "active" at it. i will keep you in my prayers as you are going through your cancer recovery. where i'm at...2 years 4 mos down the road. the good news....i'm near goal, i'm engaged to a great guy and i just had plastic surgery to take off the belly skin and have my boobs lifted. my fiancee' and i are about to contract to build a new house (i cant believe i have to move again...i just moved to texas less then 3 years ago) we are staying in texas..just moving to a very small town out west. (i'm from nyc moving to a town of 3600 people) god has a good sense of humor...but i've never been happier. the not so good news....i havent started working out since before my surgery in may-everything is moving south, i am TOTALLY addicted to sugar...especially ice cream and i feel like crap eating this way. i've had trouble eating with the band since day 1. i cant eat sitting down, i cant eat some days, despite having hardly any fill. i am trying to work my way out of this funk.... i am going to see my doctor next tuesday. i am going to get totally unfilled as an experiment to see if my eating problems are due to the band, my anatomy, etc. i am going to force myself to eat good food like i did when i was first banded. i am then going to get myself off sugar. i did it when i got banded and felt great when i ate good nutrition. i also am starting the gym this week. instead of thinking of the whole enchilada...i'm going to just make myself get dressed and walk into the gym. i saw that suggestion on here and it made sense. my problem is i think of having "to do it all" and then i get overwhelmed. once i'm in a routine at the gym...i do much better... i am totally happy i got the band. i just need to get back on track especially with regards to the sugar. so glad we are still around....hope more of the group shows up josie

hi mimi, maybe just let your stomach relax for a few hours. whenever i've had an issue...i usually get so nervous and want to get it "fixed" that i aggravate it more. i try to force it to take in liquids, etc. then it swells more when i do nothing for a period of time, it will usually come back in place. it's weird...i havent had a bad episode for over 2 years...except this past friday night. i think i ate too fast or too big a piece of steak/lobster. i got worried and started trying to drink Water, eat ice cream, etc and made it worse. i couldnt get anything down. luckily it was time to go to bed (which i sat up on pillows to sleep half the night) and it gave me 8 hrs to let my stomach relax. i was better the next day. maybe this can help? hope you feel better.... and maybe look for a new doctor who will work with you then work in "absolutes". josie

hi, i have to say i agree with those that say going into this....we just dont know how whatever WLS will be for us. we make the best decision based on what we know at the time. i was one of those who said they would never, EVER have anything but the band. i didnt want my intestines or stomach cut, etc. even without much of a fill, i experienced issues with eating. i still cant eat sitting down. now that i am at my goal....i have to say i'm not sure i can keep living with the band. while i was losing weight....i didnt mind the pb's, sliming, etc. but i'm starting to think a permanent "diet" of these issues is not in the cards for me. i havent decided anything definitely yet.... the sleeve has peaked my interest but i must say i want to see more history developed on this surgery. i dont want to "switch seats on the titanic". but people that had similar issues with the band that i do...seem to have a much easier time with the sleeve. most importantly i have to say everyone is entitled to their own experience and opinion....and sharing it with someone that requests it is the best we can do to help. josie

Congratulations mechbandster. i like what you said about non scale victories feeling sweeter then looking at a number on the scale. i have to agree....once i got my mind off the scale....i did much better with my weight loss. enjoy the new you!!!

I cant say enough good things about Dr Spivak AND his staff. They are very professional, knowledgable and friendly. The after care I received from all of them....really made the lapband experience a good one. Dr Spivak is very accessible which is key for me. I dont think i could've done it without their support. josie

Welcome to lapbandland momwifelove.....hope you get back on your feet soon. josie

welcome jerry....pre-op is really a short period of time (think of only "one day at a time") and the results you will get from the band are more then worth it..... good luck on your surgery josie

Great post sadie...i find we need to take responsibility in order to be successful....which is clearly outlined in your post you've also stated one of the biggest hurdles to cross....the mind. it is doable and many on this site have done it. that has helped me in my journey good luck...and keep on keepin' on

hi lovedinfl, there are many factors that affect this decision. ie. age, amount of weight lost, etc. i did not want to have PS so i worked out like crazy while i was losing my weight. i wanted to avoid it at all costs. after losing my weight, i still had alot of skin around my abdomen and decided to have a TT. since i was having surgery anyway...., i decided to have a breast lift too. i am thrilled that i did both. the surgery was actually relatively easy. (i say relative considering i was under the knife for 8 hours) losing4life brings up a good point about waiting a year. plus i recommend getting surgery after losing the weight you want to lose. i've seen a few people here jump the gun and get it when they still have weight to lose. and they need a second surgery. there is a forum on here with alot of info on cosmetic surgery. also the website "www.makemeheal.com" has alot of info on it. good luck with your band. josie

hi cantb, i also was extremely tired after my lapband. it took 2 weeks before i felt like myself again. just get as much rest as you can.... good luck with your band.... josie

good girl!!! until then make sure you keep drinking Water....

hi moonpie, i use the new-whey Protein bullets. i bought them online at A1Supplements.com - Wholesale supplements Nutrition at Low Prices to Build Muscle, Lose Fat with EAS, MuscleTech, BSN and more! they have them in 25 gms and 42 gms i like the blue raspberry and fruit punch the best i continue to use these today if i cant eat enough protein good luck!

hi kimmie call your doctor right away.....

scrappy, that's funny about leaving enough time to take the girdle off. i forgot i had it on once and peed right through it. ha!

great thread xemma and great posts by everyone. i have to say the first time i saw my collar bones again.....it really gave me a good boost. i didnt anticipate this and it was a real thrill. i felt "skinny" after that. doodle...you captured alot of good ones!!!

surprisingly i can eat steak and not chicken or eggs. the steak must not be overcooked or cooked too well. i think i could eat steak about 6 months after being banded

yes...i went down 1 size and went from wide to medium. i wasnt anticipating this and had to buy new shoes in addition to clothes.

love, love, love papaya enzymes....they work very quickly when i'm stuck. i like the GNC ones best. i order them online.

hi trisha, so glad your daughter is doing so well. i know you were very worried about her. hi waistband thank you so much. i will try to post pics this week. i am so happy with the results. better then i expected. i LOVE my PS. he is great and really did a super job. thanks for info on fat and estrogen. i did hear that. plus my doctor said serotonin levels drop during such long operations. i also had to stop my estrogen 1 week before the operation due to potential for blood clots...i'm sure that didnt help. it only lasted about a week... good luck with your lapbanding.....

hi laura, i think you are absolutely right about staying ahead of the pain. my sister in law kept me steady on the meds because she didnt want to have to catch up if the pain started. especially the first few days.... glad you are doing well... and yes dont take the binder off till you go to the doctor. you also dont want to mess up the drains. from what i've read here...it gets pretty nasty if they fall out. i had the same amount of skin removed. he then took out 4 lbs with lipo. but that didnt translate into equal weight loss. to be honest...the sculpting the surgery did was the real prize. i was worried about how much he took off but it really didnt matter. i had a foley which they took out 2 days after surgery. i was glad to have that too. i think because of the breast lift/tt combo....i couldnt really lift out of the chair very well the first 2 days. anyway....keep on keepin' on girl!

hi allie sounds like you had a productive day!. to be honest i was glad i didnt stay in the hospital. i slept better. also i originally wanted a LBL and my doctor explained why a TT would be better. he said he could pull the front tighter if he did the TT which makes sense. also it's only 4 inches in back that wasnt cut. lastly i think my butt would be flatter if he did the LBL. i did the breast lift which is my favorite part. you will be so happy after it's done. your $$ price sounds VERY reasonable. josie

hi kimberly good luck with your band...it truly is a gift that we can get this. let us know if you need any help josie