Zoe

Chantal, I love your idea of printing everyone's story and keeping it with you. I'm going to do the same -- make a LapBand talisman that I can read again and again as a reminder of why I'm on this journey. Thank you! Keep those stories coming if you haven't posted yet. . .

Great thread, Chantal! I was walking in the Grand Canyon this June with an average-sized friend, just taking a leisurely stroll around the flat section -- and I was getting winded after just a few steps. I'm 47, but I felt ancient on that walk. If someone had offered me a wheelchair, I would have taken it! Then I got home and looked at the picture someone had taken of the two of us, and realized to my horror that I had turned into this absolutely huge person! That's what did it -- combined with a blood-pressure reading of 170/95. I had researched the band before, but now that the FDA had approved it, I started devouring every article I could find. I won't bore you with the procedural details. . . but once I had decided on Dr. Rumbaut, I e-mailed and called his office, set up an appointment three weeks from my last call, got banded 8/26, and haven't looked back since. Every time I write a check to pay off the loan I have a smile on my face.

Buongiorno, Sharon. . . and congratulations! Weighing yourself just once a week is a great idea. There's a "weekly scale challenge" thread here that you might want to check out. Meanwhile, I'm glad you're feeling good. You'll feel better each day!

I'm in! Great idea, Penni. I don't know if I'll be able to visit anyone in the hospital during regular business hours, but I'll do what I can. Thanks for starting this!

How exciting, Lainie! You'll do fine. Penni and Greg, I think a "bandster angel" program is a great idea. Could we start threads under our states in the local support section?

Hi Trish -- we have a virtual support group here, so if you have any questions or concerns, don't be afraid to ask. Congratulations on your upcoming surgery date -- that's less than four weeks away! We'll send lots of pre-Thanksgivings thoughts and prayers for all you November bandsters.

Thanks for your nice message, Betty. It's wonderful to see that you're off to such a great start!

Good for you, Melissa, for passing up McD's and Dunkin Donuts! That's a major victory. When you get onto mushy foods it does get easier; if you're craving french fries, you can have mashed potatoes, and if you're craving a jelly donut, you can have yogurt. I know, they don't sound like great substitutes now, but believe it or not they actually help (at least they did for me). . . and while the head hunger doesn't go away completely, it does fade. Hang in there!

Hi everyone -- the late October days have been so gorgeous that it's been a pleasure to walk. I've been going to the park almost every day for a two-mile walk or longer. The best change? I now WANT to get up and move instead of thinking, "Damn, I haven't exercised in days, so I guess I have to do something, even though all I want to do is reach for the remote." It's been fun to follow everyone's progress (and tribulations) on this thread. I'm celebrating my two-month bandiversary today. While I'm still nervous about my minimal restriction, I'm full of energy, my clothes are baggy, and people are noticing a change. I've gotten compliments not just from friends but from co-workers and neighbors who see me out with the dog every day. Most of all, I have hope again, no more resignation and despair about being fat forever. I can't wait to get rid of the next 25 pounds! (That's another big bag of dog food my body won't have to cart around.) I feel as if I have a group of friends here at LBT who know exactly what I'm going through and are rooting for me and for everyone else here. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Hi Alex -- I haven't received the info yet. Please send me a private message or, better yet, e-mail me: idiot@buffoonco.com. Thanks.

That's great news! You've inspired me to hit the weight room again. I feel a little weird going to the gym with all those buff guys (and women) in their 20s, but what the hell!

I've been having trouble adhering to the no-drinking-with-meals restriction. I'm on meds that give me chronic dry mouth. Quitting them is not an option. The good thing is, I have no trouble drinking 64 oz. of water each day, because I was already drinking that much before the band. The bad thing is, I'm sipping water constantly. I've tried various lozenges and they don't seem to help. Meanwhile, after nearly two weeks I'm waiting for my first 1.2 cc fill to kick in. . . I just had a whole entree at a Thai restaurant, complete with rice. Any suggestions?

Congratulations! You're headed toward your next downward milestone -- just wait til you hit the 180s!

Oh Rica, I'm sorry to hear your sad news. According to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, "Leukemia is a malignant disease (cancer) of the bone marrow and blood. It is characterized by the uncontrolled accumulation of blood cells." Here are two internet sites with leukemia info: http://www.mayoclinic.com/invoke.cfm?id=DS00351 (gives basics) and http://www.leukemia.org/hm_lls (has lots of detailed links). This isn't much, but it's a place to start. I hope your father feels better soon.

Jodie, you are definitely taking the right step by contacting a lawyer -- and you do need to talk to someone in your home state, since divorce property laws vary. Legal advice can help you with the messy practical stuff that comes with a breakup, and sometimes just having a way to deal with all that crap -- keeping your family land, working out debt payments -- can help a person get through the emotions. You're smart to recognize that nasty times like this can lead to "sabotage" of self-improvement. That said, if you do find yourself reaching for the chocolate bars (or your comfort food of choice), don't be too hard on yourself. Sometimes a lapse into an old bad habit can offer temporary comfort. I can tell from your posts that you recognize food isn't going to offer real support. You can take more lasting comfort in knowing that you are getting your body and your life back on track -- and if you are headed for divorce and the proceedings drag on, by the time of your final hearing you might be so slender that your (ex-)husband's eyes will bug out in court. I hope your lawyer offers good advice. If you aren't satisfied, try contacting your local legal aid office or, better yet, ask a divorced friend in your state if she (or he) can recommend someone. Good luck with everything.

I can't sleep if my brain is spinning in circles, but single-malt scotch used to work for me. About that Southern cooking -- check out Shoney's or Morrison's (big in Alabama; I don't know about KY-TN). Shoney's has a great breakfast buffet with fresh fruit and grits. Morrison's is cafeteria-style and usually has something kinda nutritious and not loaded with grease.

Just checking in. . . I walked over 10,000 steps today (5+ miles) with the dog; good thing, too, because I'm not feeling much restriction and I want to EAT. Still eating better and much less than pre-band, still feeling great, but I'm waiting for that fill to kick in, since it's been 10 days. More walking tomorrow if the weather stays gorgeous. Have a great weekend, everyone!

Marie, W.A. = Western Australia -- imagine everything west of the Mississippi as one giant state. According to Janie's post cited in my first message, her surgeon "filled the band to its maximum during surgery" and she has lost 35 lbs. since Nov. 2003.

Janie, who was banded in Perth, is having trouble; see her thread at http://lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=3418 Any suggestions on someone she could see in W.A. (or elsewhere) for a second opinion?

Janie, who was banded in Perth, is having trouble; see her thread at http://lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=3418 Any suggestions on someone she could see in W.A. (or elsewhere) for a second opinion?

Welcome back, Kelly Ann! Now that you mention it, Dr. Rodriguez's (pre-op) office was pretty creaky . . . it didn't bother me, because although not everything was bright shining new, the equipment seemed adequate for the task. Did your experience match your expectations after having read other Rumbaut patients' stories here? My face looked thinner right away too -- also my feet, since I lost a lot of Water during the first few days. Give yourself time to rest and heal. If you have any problems, don't hesitate to call Dr. R's office or cell phone -- he's very accessible. Welcome to Bandland!

Yeah, Marie, since the days of Al Capone are long gone, nobody carries a machine gun in a violin case anymore. . . we haul squirt guns in purses!

About 25 years ago (during the reign of the first Ayatollah) I got stopped by security because I had a squirt gun in my purse, which I admit was a pretty dumb thing to have taken to an airport. I thought the security staff overreacted -- until I read about a guy who carried a loaf of rye bread onto a plane, brought it into the tiny bathroom, and chewed himself a gun-shaped prop which he waved around while demanding to be taken to Cuba. Oops, I've veered off on a tangent. Is this still the whining thread?

Congratulations on the weight loss -- and on your imminent advertising stardom! What is it about Texas? You all seem to do so well with the band. . . and there are so darn many of you! I think there's a Lyle Lovett song waiting to be written.

What sad news, Penni. When my aunt died, someone told me that we might be crying to see her sail over the horizon, but that we couldn't see the joyous reception for her on the other side. I hope you find comfort in your family and friends.