Wyld Blu

Nope...I have been here in Cali for most of my life. Dr. Vartivarian in West Hills did my TT. He did a FABULOUS job and took off over 3 lbs of skin! I have a flat tummy now! My new belly button still looks kinda funny, but I may just get a tattoo to cover any remaining scars. I would love to put some pics up...maybe soon. Wyld Blu Team Leader Passion Parties WWW.WyldPassion.com (661)435-5200

I am in Agua Dulce (near Palmdale). I was banded 5/27/04 almost 2 yrs out now! Had a tummy tuck and port revision...I would LOVE to chat with others in the area. Cheers, Wyld Blu Passion Parties Team Leader WWW.WyldPassion.com (661)435-5200

Well, I am waiting to hear back from the doctors office right now. Wouldn't there be other symptoms if I had an erosion problem? -Blu-

I get a flouro everytime I go in for an adjustment. Basically, I eat a lot of chicken, sometimes tuna, sandwiches, ribs a week ago...lol...solid Proteins. Last night was the first time I have has pizza in over a yr...it was more of a test to see if I actually had ANY restriction at all...nope, none. VERY SCARY. PLUS, I don't feel anything passing through the band at all. I use to feel Water going down...now I feel (and hear) nothing! -Paula-

Back in April, I had a fill to 3cc's. Surprisingly it seemed to make me LOOSER! So, I waited several weeks to see if it would ever kick in...never did. Then I worried if I had a leak. I went back to the doc at the end of May. He took out the same amount that went in in April and added 1/2 cc more...so now I have 3.5 cc's in my 4cc band. I am even LOOSER! Last night, for the first time in a yr, I had a slice of pizza. Not only did it go down just fine, I also had another piece with no problems. I didn't even feel it pass through the band. WHAT gives? My doc checked my band in May for slippage and for any other problems but sees nothing wrong? I don't get it! I feel like the more adjustments I am getting the less restriction! Last night I felt NO restriction! HELP! -Paula-

Well, my one year bandiversary date came and went on 5/27th. I am 85 lbs lighter (from surgery) and about 110-115 from my heaviest in 2001. I have gone from about a size 30 (at my heaviest) to a 6-8 in jeans and life is really wonderful. Some things I have discovered about myself, once I found myself again.... 1-You have to love yourself regardless of your size. WLS will NOT cure your low self esteem issues. I was lucky to have dealt with this before I ever was banded. 2-Any food issues you may have before WLS will still be there until you resolve them. In other words WLS won't cure this. You STILL have to work on it yourself! 3-Unfortunately, the chocolate demon, if she knows your address before WLS, SHE WILL FIND YOU AGAIN! You can fight her, but I choose to give in occasionally. 4-Each size you go down, buy yourself one piece of new clothing. Whether it is jeans, a skirt, blouse, undies, whatever. You deserve it and you SHOULD be rewarded. Plus you need clothes that fit you as you are still losing. 5-Never use food as your reward. This can be a viscious cycle you don't want to start. For a reward idea, see #4. 6-When someone asks how you have lost so much weight..what's your secret.If you choose to answer at all, tell them lap band surgery and use it as a way to educate IF YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE DOING SO. Otherwise, smile and just answer that you are eating healthier, excersising more and eating less. This is NOT a lie...this is not a half truth either. It is the truth. You don't have to give out all the details if you don't want. 7-Realize that none of us are alone in this journey. There are some people who have been banded far longer than you, and some that are just beginning their jounery. Listen and gleen whatever information you need from those that have been there, and share what you know to those just now crossing your path. 8-Get a GOOD understanding that mirrors and scales LIE. They are in a conspiracy together! It is our job not to obsess about what they tell us. We need to listen to our clothes and how they fit more. Mirrors and scales love to tell us that we are not looking or losing like we think we should be...STEP AWAY. 9-If you think you are loosing slower than you should be, or going through a month long (or longer) plateau....don't look at what you have lost in pounds this week. Take the TOTAL amount you have lost from the time of your surgery, and average out your total weight loss to now. It may surprise you to learn you are right on target, even if you haven't seen that lieing scale move in forever! 10-Use this board, and the other boards you may be on to the best of your advantage. Talk about things that are going wrong so you can get some advise and help and talk about when things are going right so we may share in you joy! I am sure as I near my goal, I will just keep learning more and more about myself and my band. This has been a wonderful journey so far and I am sure this trend will continue! Can you believe I just bought my FIRST pair of shorts in a LONG time? Size 8 thank you very much! For the first time, I have been looking forward to warmer weather so I can take off the long sleeved shirts and heavy jackets! Who woulda thought? -Paula-

Hi guys, Thanks for your kind words. I am STILL sick! I do feel a bit better with the antibiotics but it is slow going! I go to my band doc on the 31st. So, I am going to talk to him about this. It is to the point of when I have to get this crap out of my chest, it is causing me to PB too. THIS SUCKS.

Hi, I got kind of a gross...no it's a real gross problem/question. I have bronchitis with pnemonia right now...lucky me. LOL. I am taking Amoxicillian and Robitussin for the cough. However, I keep having to hawk up the gross stuff...you know the phlegmn. It feels the same as vomiting and I am worried about my band slipping. I am not nauseous, but it is the only way to get some of this crap out of my system. Any suggestions? I am drinking tons of hot tea and Water, but I still have to get this stuff up and out. HELP. -Blu-

Megan, not sure yet as I just started. But I can tell you, I already have 2 parties to do and several catalog orders and I haven't even gotten my kit yet!!! It looks like it will be a lot of fun in any case! -Wyld-

Sorry, no porno tapes! LOL...

Ok, as I have new found confidence and need extra cash these days (who doesn't?) I am now a Passion Party consultant. I am selling adult toys and other products. I am just letting ya all know...if anyone needs anything...I am yer gal... -Wyld- 233/151/130

Ok, so now I am SO confused. My restriction has always felt like an uncomfortable, very slightly painful tightness in my stomach, when I am full. I mean, that and the hiccups have ALWAYS been my stopping notice. Since my last (3rd) fill, I don't get that feeling at ALL. I was feeling like I could eat non-stop. Now, I am noticing this tightness in my throat whenever I eat. It isn't like reflux, and it doesn't hurt. It is like the "golf ball" I have heard others talk about. I understand that, even at almost a yr out, there is STILL a learning curve with the band. Can this new feeling be my new stop signal? I am confused. I just ate two sandwich squares of American cheese (not the best choice, but I did it anyway). I got that feeling in my throat as soon as I was done with the second piece. I don't know what to think. What do you guys think?

I just got an adjustment on 4/27/05, I have been hoping it would kick in soon. I had MORE restriction BEFORE this fill than now. I feel like I could eat nonstop! There has been NO problems eating bread, chicken, eggs, ANYTHING. It is irratating me to no end. I feel hungry constantly and yes I eat mostly solid Proteins. GRRRRRR. Sorry, just venting. I hope against hope it will kick in soon! -Blu-

Getting this fill was kinda strange for me. I wasn't eating more each meal, but I was hungry REALLY fast after I ate. My doc said he was surprised I waited so long to get a fill. My last fill was back in October. But like I said, restriction felt fine...I just got hungry again REALLY soon (like a hour) after I had a meal. So far, I feel nothing different with this fill, but experience has told me to wait and reserve judgement for a couple of weeks. LOL

Just curious...I just had my 3rd adjustment yesterday. My doc told me 2 days of clear liquids. I don't remember this rule on my last 2 fills. Maybe I was in denial...or maybe he forgot, but I heard it this time. I don't even have anymore broth in the house...the thought of it makes me feel sick. LOL. What did your doc tell you after your adjustment?

I cannot believe I have been on this journey for 11 months today...almost a year. It has been a wonderful experience so far. I have lost alot and feel great. I have met some really nice people in here too. I went in for an adjustment today, my third. They reminded me of the date! LOL. I am now up to 3cc's, and hope this takes me the rest of the way I have to go...just wanted to share.

Oh Lord, since I got into a pair of 18's there, I LIVE at Old Navy....you can follow the sizes all the way down! I am now in a pair of 8's and 6's are getting VERY close. The funny thing is I can never find them. I always have to find a sales person to find them for me. Ah well....size 4-6 here I come...watch out Old Navy....

Oh, I PLAN to, next time I can get off work. LOL

Boy, people can be so idiotic! It comes down to a "my surgery is better than your surgery" thing. It is stupid. You made a choice that is right for YOU. No matter what ANYONE else says, you did what is best for you. There will ALWAYS be naysayers in everything you do. If you want to be successful with your lap band surgery, you WILL be. I have lost 80 lbs in 11 months, actually 9 months since I am on a plateau. LOL. The funny thing is, that if you ever, for ANY reason decided to get RNY after all, YOU COULD...SHE IS STUCK. LOL. You did what was right for you...screw what anyone else says. Sorry...but people like that just get under my skin!!!! YOU will do great, if you want it! PLUS, lap band is adjustable FOR LIFE...can she say that about her surgery??? I think not.

My pcp, who was DEAD set against lap band surgery when I had it almost a yr ago, in fact told me WHY it would NOT be successful and how I would fail with it, and how she would only support me having RNY...just surprised me. Back then, I gave her a TON of information on what lap band is and is not...and she snidely told me, yeah, she would eventually look at it....I just called her. I told her that I have lost 80 lbs and am very close to goal. I reminded her of who I was and what she had told me. She said not only did she remember me, but wanted to thank me, and tell me how grateful she was. She said she read everything I gave her, and has been passing THAT information off to a few patients who have inquired about WLS!!! She repeated several times how grateful she was that I called her to tell her about my success and asked what online communities I was involved in...Of course I mention SLH but also Obesityhelp.com. She said she would LOVE it if I would stop in sometime to see her, so she could talk to me more about it!!! I feel so good that I was able to educate my doctor in lap band surgery...wonder what I should charge for the consultation...lol

I don't understand how the acid IN my stomach can erode the band OUTSIDE my stomach. How can this be? Did you doctor explain this? I am going on the 27th of this month to my doctor. I am not gonna have any strawberries for the next few days. If the problem doesn't subside, I will try to get them to move the appt. date up.

Hi everyone....I need your input. I have been banded for a year next month. I have ok restriction, but seem to be hungry a lot sooner after a meal than in the recent past. I go in to the docs on the 27th of this month for a band check and maybe a fill. My problem is that for the last few days, I have woken up in the middle of the night with burning acid in my throat...the worse reflux ever. I had bad reflux before banding (never like this though)but none after, until now. I am eating dinner at least 3 hours before I go to bed. The only difference I can think of is that I have had 2 strawberries around 4 in the afternoon each day this has happened. Could this be it? I would worry about a slipped band except my restriction hasn't changed. Whatcha think??

AND Weight Watchers worked EVERYTIME I was one it...lol

I am a professional lead singer in 2 different bands. If I was you, I would get a sub...4 days after surgery is TOO soon. You will be sore, possibly be suffering from gas pains and be VERY tired. Also, because they cut through your muscles, you will not be able to effectively use your diaphram for singing...give yourself time to heal before you gig...surgery is taxing on your body.

Well, I probably wouldn't mind that were it not for the total lack of funds. I think I will give myself until Monday to get back on track. My mind is on vacation and it left without me...not the first time. LOL. But, it has happened before. I think I just need time to get over this fight I am having with the 2 yr old in my head. I have this wonderful community of bandsters and 2 others as well. My friends and family are also very supportive...so, I just got to get it together.