princess_n_thep

Me too. Gonna set my VCR since I will be working!! I live in Surprise, where are you?

wow, that is QUICK! Good luck to you and let us know when you get back how your doing!

ahhhhh ok, i understand now. I should tell my DH this. But then again, the beer never usually stays in the glass long enough for the ice to melt.

$9,500 Dr Ortiz- TJ Mexico www.obesitycontrolcenter.com (but I have heard that it is only $10,500 in Chicago at the WISH center but don't know if they have "requirements")

Wooo hooooo Anna! Ok girl, now just remember to breathe the next few weeks! It will be here before you know it but until then time may move very ssslllooowwwlllyyy. Try and find something to really keep your mind off of it. YEAHHHHHHH! I am so excited for you!

hmmm, are these all located next to the lunchables, like near the dairy section?? I looked and couldn't find them. I tried Albertson's, Fry's, and Safeway. Maybe the frozen food section instead? And they are just called "South Beach Meals" >????

I found that a tight "sports bra" style works best. Tucks them and holds them up close to the upper chest. Also, it will aid in reducing sag due to weight loss. You do get the "uni-boob" syndrome ha ha but to me it is worth it. It is a bit uncomfy tight the first few days but after that, no biggie. How much are you taking in Liquid Tylenol? I only take 2 Tbs (rarely) and just swallow it down. Careful on the walking thing too fast. I did that because I felt great, then regretted it. Remember, wherever you walk TO you have to walk BACK!

dallasdoll, my opinion is that you absolutely made the right decision. I shall share some experiences: 3 of my family members have had RNY GBypass. All 3 of them are doing great. HOWEVER........ they can't eat anything with sugar or eat too much or it makes them vomit violently and quickly to where they are running for the bathroom, without any warning. One time my mom ate too much and whammo, she was running through Red Lobster for the bathroom with her hand over her mouth as the vomit was leaking through her fingers leaving a trail of droplets (gross but necessary to share this info). Also, due to the dumping syndrome (no warning diarhea) all 3 of my family members have bought the handheld carpet cleaners and carry a change of clothes in their cars for their accidents along with plastic bags. And they have used them, not just a precaution. yes, they do lose the weight VERY rapidly but along with losing weight so fast comes ADDITIONAL stretch marks because of the rapid loss. Plus, they are losing soooo fast that they are only in their current weight clothes for a matter of weeks before having to move (depending on their starting weight and how big they were). I know my mom when from a 28 to a 12/14 within a year! And there are several foods that bypass patients will never eat again. (bandsters really don't have that issue). My family members can't eat lettuce at all, no digestion. Also it is very permanant. Even though the band can be a lifelong committment, it is fully reversable and correctable. Take it out and you get your stomach back (and the weight though probably). But no cutting and pasting of the innards. I had my surgery on wed, was painting my pantry (the lower shelves) on Sat, and was back to work on Mon. All my other family members talked about 2-3 weeks of laying in a recliner groaning and moaning in pain. I realize I was a super healer but most bandsters feel very little "pain" by the end of week 1. For 2 of them, they had open surgery (big scars) and my mom had laproscopic but still bigger incisions than mine. She has about 4 of hers port size and one small. I have 4 tiny and 1 small port size. The ones with the big scars are really ugly and jagged. I honestly think the band also teaches you more "healthy" eating habits. You are given the tool and taught to make choices. I think the band is more empowering to a person rather than FORCING them. My family members had never heard of the lapband when they had their bypass. And they admit that they are jealous that they never got this option or they would have taken it. This may be the issue with the tyrant you encountered on the board. Jealousy is a very mean animal.

Huh? really? where did you get this information from?

Mine said his usuaul saying, "honey, if you are happy, then I am happy." he is very supportive all the time usually. Then.... I told him I was going to Tijuana. Just a twinge of hesitation and raised eyebrows but still supportive. He wanted me to get it done in the states for protection of my patient rights and such. If I had known about the WISH center in Chicago, I would have gone there. I am from Chicago so I would of had family and friends around me, that would have been nice.

Sounds as if your heart is in the right place. If you want it Joe.... go for it! Vinesqueen had asthma before surgery and she is doing great not using her meds anymore at all I think!

geez, why couldn't you all post all this a month ago?

My advice... due to the cost and since your so close... go to mexico and make a mini vacation for the weekend!!!

No you do not need a passport... right now. Passports make things A LOT easier though. I have been told, as of June 1st, all travelers crossing the Mexico border will need a passport though due to border security beefing up.

Yep, I want to be curvey but be classified more in the "athletic build" category rather than the "voluptuous" category. Give me TONED MUSCLE baby!!!!

my doc says NOOOOO carbonated drinks. Period. I think you should ask your doctor about his opinion. Many people here say they have tried carbonation but it is very uncomfortable. Plus, beer is a whoooooole lotta calories you don't need. Maybe try a nice vodka/cranberry instead?

Bumping to top so veteran bandsters see it and post. I am curious too!

wow, do you see how long this thread is? you are soooooooo loved girl! Me too, I am in on the water challenge as well. Especially since I am a big bad girl on drinking it. Today I got 3 bottles down (regular size)!! Sounds as if you are on the road to speedy recovery! Just think about how much extra weight you will lose by being in liquids longer! (even though it was hell) Come on kathy! Start poochin again!!!!

Thanks everyone. I know I know, and I knew I shouldn't get so darn frustrated but with wearing a uniform everyday to work (and bought it after the 15 lbs) I am nervous and anxious. I am counting the days till May 7th for my first fill!!! I knew and read about no restriction but of course, I thought nahhhh, it won't happen to me. Well darn it, here I am. I knew it, but didn't really sink it in. I really truly want this band to work but I need to realize that it isn't magic and I need to work WITH it. I reallyyyyyyyy need to eat more healthy. It really sucks eating with everyone at work because we are constantly eating out. But if I bring my dinner, I don't get to socialize like I need to at a new job. ((confession time)) tonight, a BIG Chipotle's burrito, stuffed with everything. I ate 1/2, then ate the other 1/2 about 2 hours later. Man, I am a glutton for punishment! STEP AWAY FROM THE FOOOOOOOOD! I really need to try just eating healthy and I would be okay. food just tastes sooooooo good now that I had the 3 weeks from hell with that liquid crap. jtk tnhfz(*u uvj[aqi kiJ25^@43U5 32994 V ((banging my head on the keyboard)) sighhhhh! thanks for the words of encouragement though everyone! I need it!

yeppers, it is located in the blue bar above ^^^^^ not many people "hang out" in there but if you go online and resurrect a chat thread and post you are in there, sometimes people come and start a chat. Or... you can plan a chat and run the room for a topic. Some do that too! I love the chat room and go there and "sit" often just in case someone pops in. A note to guests as unregistered users: if you go to chat, we cannot see you posting anything because you must be a registered user to chat. All it shows us is "guest" or "unregistered user".

Okay, I had the magic bullet for one month post surgery. Although I thought it was fantastic when I got it, I really didn't use it all that much. I have returned my bullet and am just using my blender I already have, a handheld whipper ($10), and a smoothie machine (Kohl's $14.99) instead. Just my opinion, but it just wasn't worth the $60. If it had been $20 I would have kept it. Plus, cleaning it was a pain as I couldn't get my fat hand in the cup to clean it and the edges of the blender cup were sharp once you are doing dishes and your hands are soft. And the food sometimes sticks to the blades underneath and is hard to clean. I thought it was great for making single serve Protein smoothies but I just couldn't justify the $60 it cost. Sooooo, my opinion is now this: The bullet was okay during the first month of post surgery but not really worth keeping after unless you are big into making other things such as homemade salsa.

Well, it is official. I am one of the unlucky "no restriction till filled" patients. I was lucky to be a fast healer and bounce back from surgery as if I had a tooth pulled but now that i am week 4 after surgery I can eat like a horse again. I have always been a great healer and knew my swelling would go down FAST but this is ridiculous!! I am so mad at myself for not having the self control!! I would have never thought I could but yesterday we had pizza for dinner. I tried a bite, then another, then another.... 3 SLICES later, I am full. Geez, I have to get this under control!!! On the third week after surgery I started my full solids. I have no issues with anything. White bread no problem. chicken no problem. Pasta no problem. Etc Etc no problem. I ate smaller portions and felt full but I had no limits on "what" I could eat. I know I know I need to make healthy choices but after that long liquid phase I am gorging! I am exercising now so that is helping me starve off the pounds and maintain this weight longer. I realize I have not gotten my fill yet (May 7th) but I am starting to feel like the first official band failure!!! Will I get restriction, are you sure???? Slowly gaining back the 15 I lost, Jenna

I think Lisa's may be more expensive than Sharon's!!!

ummm, check out the "wardrobe malfunctions" thread and you can see my experience with those horrid gadgets.

Ahhhhhh, I guess all I have to say is: "don't hate da playa, hate da game!" okay, so I got a lot more to say actually.... First things first... I don't feel that ALL plastic surgery is cosmetic nor is the band always cosmetic. But I do feel that the band was cosmetic for ME as I am just being a realist on how I feel about it. Doesn't make me (or anyone who feels this way) "less deserving" at all. I am all for lower BMI's getting the band as a weight loss tool. If someone is a BMI of 29 and they want the band, hell yeah go get it. yes, it is a surgery but so is breast augmentations. So is it your opinion that a certain cup size are not allowed breast implants? Now, I may not feel that lower bmi's of under 35 should be getting bypass but come onnnnn, this is a implantable and fully removable and reversable operation that is minimally invasive and carries little risk. In many cases it is outpatient surgery. Just because it has the words "weight loss surgery" attached to it there is a qualifier for it. I don't call it WLS when I talk about it to others as they automatically assume bypass or stomach stapleing... I call it WLT (weight loss tool) and then I explain. The only thing I am really "against" is designing ways for insurance to pay for it when it is more cosmetic than life saving. It is definitely a CASE BY CASE basis. And YOU AND YOUR DOCTOR are the only ones who can really determine that, not anyone on this board. If it is life saving, insurance should pay. If it is cosmetic and you just feel icky about being fat (like me) then pay for it yourself and don't eventually make us all pay for it in higher premiums, difficulty in getting other necessities covered, etc etc. And I say this as obviously as the devil's advocate so to speak as I am a low BMI that paid out the nose. Would I have liked insurance to pay for it? well sureeeeee! But at what cost to everyone else and am I really contributing to the healthcare insuance issues in our country if I did? Maybe I overthink things and think one person CAN make a difference. When my healthcare insurance premiums are rising yearly and I never go to the doctor, that ticks me off a bit. And I don't even want to get started on the entire welfare/state paid insurance for low income/homeless, that is a wholeeeee 'nother egg to crack for me. Now, I have noooooo idea what your situation is. But I can tell you that I had depression (I am fat and hated it), I have joint pain (well duh, I was fat), I had stress (umm, again, I am feeling like a cow), I have back pain (hello cow lady here), I am snoring like a freight train these days, possible apnea (again, my weight gain). None of these things I (note the use of the word I) consider morbidities as I will not be dying from the fact that my knees hurt or I feel like I look like a cow so I get the blues. But... it is fixed by losing my weight. BOTTOM LINE: It is an individual choice and individual lifestyle option. As a BMI of 33.7 (and one of those OMG what is she doing candidates, size 18, 5'8" tall) I can tell you to stick... okay, I won't go there tonight I guess. I will be good. But don't hate on someone that chooses to change their appearance because they actually took a good long look at themselves int the mirror and are catching their weight gain early enough to NOT have the physical issues that come with being morbidly obese. As someone who was once digging in her couch to find a quarter to go buy Top Ramen for my daily meal I can tell you that if there is a will there is a way. I will be honest in that my parents (although I wouldn't accept their money) used to come visit and purposely drop money in my couch or crumple a $5 and stick it in a pocket of my jeans in the laundry. I never to this day told her I knew she did it. Anyoneeee, can afford this. It just takes manipulative planning and saving. It may not be next month but I guarentee that it can be done with the right limitations and restrictions on money spending. (for example: a friend of mine was living with her parents, complaining how broke she was, getting her car repo'd, yet she was paying $200 a month for a storage unit to house all of her garage sale crap (broken walmart dressers that weren't going to feed her or her child) and these cheap figurines. Go figure. It took a few months (and many heated arguements), but she DID get on her feet again and is now doing great. Now a summary so there is no misunderstandings about my opinions: 1. Low BMI's (or I don't even care if they are 5'2" and 100 lbs) if they want the weight loss TOOL then so be it. Their choice, their body. 2. Because of the insurance and healthcare issues of the US lower BMI's without LIFE THREATENING conditions should not try and take advantage of the healthcare system for coverage. (but again if they need it to save their lives, then do it and have insurance pay for it!) Just my opinion that is all. 3. Mexico and Europe have been banding for 4 x's as long as American doctors so therefore just because they are "american" standards does not make them golden. 4. I appreciate everyone's opinion on things, good and bad. yes, some of it may piss me off a little but I still respect your right to have an opinion nonetheless. All comments here are appreciated and thought about. I do not dismiss anyone's comments. 5. I am in no way bashing anyone for being morbidly obese and not doing something sooner, I am merely saying that just because someone notices an issue sooner they should not be persecuted for it. In my particular case, coming from a family with severe morbid obesity, my personal battle with an eating disorder and at least 3 immediate family members with RNY GBypass, I only noticed my obesity sooner and was more aware due to my elders. 6. Debate is a GOOD thing, not a negative thing. It is healthy and makes us more aware of how others feel, even if we do not agree. 7. Weight-Schmeight! Who cares? If you want it, get it. If you need it, get it. If you can afford it, spend it. If you can't afford it, finance it. 7. Do what ye will, yet harm none.... words I try and live by. I again commend any lower BMI's who are stepping forward and recognizing their obesity and getting it under control now instead of later. I think it is admirable. I also think that those high BMI's that have come to terms with their obesity are also respected in the fact that they are taking back control of their pysical and mental self and creating a change to be healthy. Because bottom line that is all it is about right? We all (low bmi or high bmi, everyone) want healthy bodies and live life to its fullest. Thank you to anyone that took the time to read what I had to say. I greatly appreciate it.