rachelb123

REMINDER - this is tonight! Hope to see you there!

This is a reminder that the next WLS (Weight Loss Surgery) Support Group meeting will be held NEXT WEDNESDAY, January 16th at 6:30pm at the following location: Memorial Hermann Hospital in The Woodlands. 9250 Pinecroft Drive 1st Floor, Conference Room Contact person: Linda Nelson 281-364-2458 Cell: 713-249-6997 This is for ALL WLS patients. So there are some Lap-Band folks and some bypass/RNY folks there. For this session we are bringing Protein drinks, bars, etc. that you want to share with the group and/or giveaway. I have bought a bunch of different Protein Drinks to try that I did not end up liking but had to buy in a case of 6 or so. So I am going to bring all the stuff that I don't like and/or can't use to see if anyone else would like them. I am also bringing extra packets of Medifast protein drinks that I really like that work well so others can try them. You could bring Protein Bars or even just the packaging of other products that would be beneficial to WLS patients. Hope that helps! I will be there! Hope to see some more Lap-Band folks! -Rachel

Forgot to clarify that we're bringing samples to share/giveaway to other folks if you have them. I drink a couple of Metifast drinks that I'm going to bring some packets of to give away. I know some of the items can be fairly expensive, so just be sure to indicate if you're bringing them for "show and tell" or for giveaway. Take care! -Rachel

Sorry guys, forgot to include that info. The Woodlands group meets every 3rd Wednesday of the month same time and location. It was good this week. Two other newly banded folks and two RNY folks (one of which is the leader) Next meeting we are bringing samples of our favorite protein drinks or other items that we enjoy that are beneficial for a WLS person. Our next meeting will be the 16th of January. I don't think it would be a problem for someone who has not been banded yet to attend. I'll double check, but unless you hear back from me I would say go ahead and come. (of course you may already be banded by our next meeting) Hope that helps! -Rachel

Totally cute! :confused:

Hey all. Been awhile since I've been on. Great to see everyone is doing well. I'm down 58lbs now. Lost a bunch when I was at 3.2 cc in a 4.0 band. But it was a bit snug and had a tough time having difficulty even getting liquids down in the morning after about 3 months so I went in and had it reduced. Well, then I stopped losing weight. Was losing a consistent 2lbs/week when at 3.2 but it really stopped after the release down to 2.8. Went back in and had it filled to 3.0. Seems to be a good balance. I have to work a little harder and have started consistently exercising and have started losing again. It's not as fast or as much as I would like but I know it's healthier and more realistic.

This is a Weight Loss Surgery Support Group (is for both bypass and band patients) It meets tonight at 6:30 at: Memorial Hermann Hospital in The Woodlands. 9250 Pinecroft Drive 1st Floor, Conference Room Contact person: Linda Nelson 281-364-2458 Cell: 713-249-6997 I plan to go tonight. Not sure what the topic is or if they have a guest speaker or anything - I've been out of town the last couple of meetings. -Rachel

There is a group for all Weight Loss Surgery patients that meets the 3rd Wednesday of each month. There is a meeting tonight. It is located at the Memorial Hermann Hospital in The Woodlands. 9250 Pinecroft Drive 1st Floor, Conference Room Contact person: Linda Nelson, 281-364-2458, Cell: 713-249-6997

I had mine done by Dr. Spivak who is downtown, but I know Dr. Collier is in the Woodlands area. Here is a link to his website: Lap Band Surgery Specialist | Richard E. Collier, M.D. I know there are some that work out of Memorial Hospital in The Woodlands too. Here's a link to their website: Memorial Hermann The Woodlands Hospital: Weight Loss Surgery (Bariatrics) Good luck! -Rachel

Ladies, I just found out about one. It's the North Houston Bandsters group (I think). Anyway, you can email steph_77373@yahoo.com for the location. See my other post for more details. -Rachel

Where did you move from VA? I moved from Fairfax County. Banded in May, down 54lbs live in Sterling Ridge of the Woodlands. I too would love a more casual, local group to get with. I just posted the note about the "North Houston Bandsters" group. Never been to a meeting yet (the coordinator has been busy) so perhaps we can meet at this one. -Rachel

Date: Thursday, November 8th Time: 6:30pm *Bring a $5-$10 wrapped gift for an exchange. We'll play games and sample soups. Contact: steph_77373@yahoo.com for exact location.

Just wondering if there is anyone else from The Woodlands area who would like to ride with me to the meeting tonight. I'll be leaving around 6pm to hopefully get there by 7pm. I can pick you up! I have a minivan and can fit 5 more people if needed! Let me know before 4pm tonight. -Rachel

Has anyone heard from Stephanie?? I have emailed her twice and not heard back. Does anyone know the details for the next meeting? I assume I missed the July one already or they never had one?? Any info is greatly appreciated. -Rachel

Next meeting: Wednesday, August 15th Unfortunately I will miss this one - will be on vacation in FL. Here are the details: Weight Loss (Bariatric) Surgery Support Group Memorial Hermann Hospital - The Woodlands DATE: 3rd Wednesday of each month TIME: 6:30pm - 7:30pm ADDRESS: Memorial Hermann Hospital 9250 Pinecroft Drive The Woodlands, TX ROOM: Conference Room, 1st floor CONTACT: Linda Nelson, 281-364-2458

Hey gang! Been awhile since I've been on. Just had my 3rd fill and it went GREAT!! Was with Brenda. She is No Nonsense! When she heard I could still eat bread, ok waffles, she filled me up good! LOVE IT! Was a little tight the first couple of days but is fine with me! Could still drink and all, just had to take it slow. Been doing protein shakes mostly the past 3 days. Had some cottage cheese yesterday and it went down fine. LOVE IT! I'm just gonna ask for her for my future appointments. Will they take requests for people? Hope everyone else is doing well. Oh yeah, this puts me at 3.5cc in my 4cc band. Yeah, seems high, but is perfect for me right now! Later! -Rachel

Hey gang! I haven't been on in awhile and was just checking in. I'm doing much better since my 3rd fill (meaning seeing some really good results - FINALLY!) I got a no nonsence lady at my last fill. She asked what I was having the most difficult eating and I told her how I wasn't having problems eating anything. Breads, etc. would still go down. She was like, "oh no, we can't have that. You should not be able to eat any bread products". So she did a reverse fill on me (fill it full till the barium can't get through then back it off) I'm up to 3.5 in my 4cc band. It was a little tight the first two days but is really great now. I can eat cottage cheese fine, etc. But that's all I've tried so far. It's only been 4 days since my fill so I've been taking it really slow/easy and mainly just been doing protein shakes. The cottage cheese was the first "solid" food I've tried. I'm going to ease back into solids. In the meantime I've dropped like 7 lbs in the 3 days and it's backed off to just 1/2 a pound this past day. Anyway, I'm only 4 lbs away from being UNDER 200 again!!! YEAH! Just keep going! -Rachel

Yeah, I think it depends on your situation, weight, etc. I was just told not to gain any weight. I went ahead and tried to watch what I ate and lost about 5 lbs before the surgery on my own.

There is a support group at the Memorial Hermann Hospital in the Woodlands that meets once a month. It is for anyone who has had any type of WLS (Weight Loss Surgery) so there is a combination of folks with the lap-band and folks who have had RNY. It's a very nice group of folks that share experiences, successes, ideas and information. Here are the details: Weight Loss (Bariatric) Surgery Support Group Memorial Hermann Hospital - The Woodlands DATE: 3rd Wednesday of each month TIME: 6:30pm - 7:30pm ADDRESS: Memorial Hermann Hospital 9250 Pinecroft Drive The Woodlands, TX ROOM: Conference Room, 1st floor CONTACT: Linda Nelson, 281-364-2458

HEY Gang! I got in touch with Stephanie A. (the new North Houston Bandsters coordinator) and got the 411 on the meetings! Here are the details for the June, 2007 meeting: DATE: Thursday, June 28th TIME: 6:30pm PLACE: Taco Milagro on Lake Robbins Dr. @ Six Pines Unfortunately I'll be leaving town earlier that day so I won't be able to make it. Hopefully I can attend the next one! Let me know how it goes! -Rachel

Oh! That makes sense! Thanks for the info!

How do they know how much is in there? How do they know how much was "absorbed"??

Hey all! I'm getting my first fill next Tuesday at the Park Plaza office. I was banded on the 18th and was pretty much back to normal within 1 week. By day 7ish I could no longer feel any restriction and I've been killing myself trying to just maintain the loss I had during the first week post op. Anyway, what I wanted to know was that do they just do a standard amount on the first fill or can I request them to FILL THAT SUCKER UP!!! I'm worried I'll get a fill and it won't make any difference and that it's going to take months before I get the restriction I need. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated! -Rachel

Hey Ragdoll, sorry to hear you're still uncomfortable. Unfortunately I can't help. I was back to normal after 6 days. One thing I do recall was that terrible pressure right between the boobs. I think it was the gas. Especially when you can feel a burp trying to come up, but then it gets stuck! OUCH! I figured out how I could keep my arms to my side and bend at the waist like I was bowing like a Japanese person. I did that two or three times and the burp would come up! What a relief! Other than that I'm sorry I can't help. -Rachel B.

I'm two days post op. Certainly better than yesterday, but still have this pressure/tightness in my chest right between the boobs - what is that? Is that the band itself? My Dr. puts the apparatus (where the saline is injected) closer to the chest area towards the bottom of the ribs rather than the hip, is that what's causing the pressure too? (Dr. Spivak, Houston, TX) Really uncomfortable. Am I drinking too much such that it's buidling up and causing the pressure? Any insight anyone has on how to relieve this discomfort would be greatly appreciated.