Cassy

I will be joining you. Thanks for the invite!

ok, so I went for my fill on the 31st and my doc kept telling me that I would feel pressure and would know that it was a good fill level. Well...I couldn't feel any pressure at all and after filling and unfilling about 5 times and drinking no less than 2 quarts of water I felt water logged and finally gave in and said I felt pressure. I think my real stomach was water logged because now I can eat like a horse...and I have been. Anyway, last week I went to a weight loss doctor thinking I would get the Vitamin B12 shots to help with my energy and such. I came out of that appt with some Topomax and 5-HTP/Carbodopa to help with my appetite along with the Vitamin D, B12, and amino acid shots. So far, I notice nothing. It's only been a week though so I'm holding out hope. I've lost two pounds since my fill so I guess I should be happy. It just seems so frickin slow. It's weird how I thought it would just melt off. It really is a slow process and I wish they would better prepare you psychologically for it. Maybe they did and I was just so focused on the promise land that I failed to realize that I was going to have to do work after all. Anyway, shamefully I must admit that I have been horrible. I haven't been drinking my protein, haven't been getting all my vegetables in, and haven't been getting in all my water. I haven't had much energy lately and I think it is the lack of protein. I need to find my groove where I can settle into a pattern of eating and drinking where I am comfortable with the options and I feel happy doing it. I'm still looking for it...the protein is the hard part for me. I also broke down this week and ordered a BodyBugg to see if it will serve as additional motivation. If it works for those guys on Biggest Loser then it can't hurt...right!? I'm realizing that everything I've been ignoring while I obsessed over raising money to have my surgery is coming back to haunt me like my finances which I finegled in order to pay the $10K plus incidental expenses in order to get it done...but it has been totally worth it so far even if it is slow. My scars are starting to even out and have turned a pretty dark pink like a bruise does right before it turns the corner so I'm pretty excited about that. I started at a size 22/24 - leaning toward the 24 and I am now comfortably in a size 20 jean and a 18/20 top. I tried to squeeze into an 18 jean last night and I have about 5 more inches to lose on stomach/hips before that is possible but when it happens that will be the smallest I can remember being in terms of an actual size. I think the corresponding weight was 222 and I was 12 years old. Sad... Anyway, I am starting over on Monday with my walking, BodyBugg in hand, protein shakes in the fridge, a plan for breakfast (that's my downfall), and something for energy. Suggestions anyone?? Until next time...

Anyone know of a doctor other than fillcenterusa that will do fills for patients who had surgery done in another state?

I'm sorry I wasn't able to make the event but I'll make it a point to go to the next one. I see what you mean about Dr. Teng. I've called and emailed and received no call back. Dr. Atkinson seems to have an attitude when it comes to people who are not his patients so I'm not sure I want to deal with that either. I think I'm going to check out the fill center doc. My luck it will end up being one of them...ha

I have two brand new pairs that are falling off of me and I want them to go to someone who can really wear them. There is the yellow, blue, and red of the new size categories at LB and I have the red that corresponds to a 22/24. They are designed for someone who is curved from the waist to the hip and then to the thigh. If you are straight from point the point they will fall off of you. PM me and we'll set it up.

Email me, we are getting together on the 23rd for dinner with all the girls and families of people having surgery on the 24th.

ok, so I haven't lost a pound since day 3 after surgery but I did lose ten pounds in those first few days and they have stayed off so I guess I should be happy about that. I think I must have lost water weight and it has not been replaced with loss of muscle or fat. I've lost a total of 8 inches since I came home from surgery which was already after the ten pounds was off so I think the water must have settled out with the muscle and fat. I have been walking at least twice a week starting last week. My energy levels are still pretty low and I think it's just the post-surgery euphoria wearing off. I really need to get a fill so I can get back on track again with feeling good. Went to the Chiropractor for the first time in my life this week and found out I have quite a bit of spine damage. My lower back has compression in one of hte vertebrae and my neck looks like a whiplash victim. I went for three adjustments this week and it feels great already. Who knew you didn't have to have back pain and neck stiffness. What a relief! Also, I go back to my psychiatrist on Monday to get him to give me either smaller pills or liquid for my Wellbutrin and Lamictal because I haven't been taking it reliably since surgery and I am irritable as hell and lashing out at people. No patience and no focus at all. I pray that all works out with that because my fill is this coming Friday and I plan to tell Dr. K to fill it up. I don't care if I have to stay on liquids for weeks. I was suppose to only be able to drink for weeks after the surgery but that only lasted a few days for me and I've been eating regular food since day 7. Oh well, I"m sure we'll find my sweet spot. I'm under some additional stress right now too which is probably bumming me out. My boss's boss is a douchebag and just promoted my boss who has only been with the company for 2 months so I want to know where I can buy a penis since that seems to be the pre-requisite to getting promoted these days. Anyway, I am going to Denver this coming Thursday evening to get a fill on Friday morning and I'm staying at the hotel until Sunday so that I can study in peace and quiet for my PMP examination which will hopefully pump up my resume and earn me some more $$. Measurements as of today are as follows: Waist 45" - loss of 2 inches since 9/27 Arm 16.5" - loss of 1 inch since 9/27 Neck 17" - no loss Hip 50" - loss of 4 inches since 9/27 Thigh 27" - loss of 1 inch since 9/27 Wrist 7.5" - no loss New measurements...just for kicks and grins Calf 17.75" Ankle 10.5" BraBand (under boobs) 43" ON the plus side people are noticing that I've lost weight and I found a really horrible picture of me at work so I can post that as my before. My God I do look sick. I am fitting into my skinny side of the closet 18/20 although I don't fit into the size 20 jeans yet. I think I need to be down to around 230-235 before they will fit. Hopefully in the next few weeks. Ta ta for now.

Anyone wear the red label jeans from LB and about to go to 22/24? Let me know, I have a brand new light and dark pair of jeans.

Hey T - are you preparing for your move? How's it going?

Don't worry Juli Ann, Dr K just scares people into eating right. He didn't even check me when I went in...he gauges it based on whether you lost weight or not. Just stay away from simply sugars. He even told several people that they are ok to eat complex carbs but to stay away from sugars of any kind. I would keep doing what you're doing and you'll have a nice head start on your weight loss to carry you through to your first fill.

ok, so I haven't lost a pound since day 3 after surgery but I did lose ten pounds in those first few days and they have stayed off so I guess I should be happy about that. I think I must have lost water weight and it has not been replaced with loss of muscle or fat. I've lost a total of 8 inches since I came home from surgery which was already after the ten pounds was off so I think the water must have settled out with the muscle and fat. I have been walking at least twice a week starting last week. My energy levels are still pretty low and I think it's just the post-surgery euphoria wearing off. I really need to get a fill so I can get back on track again with feeling good. Went to the Chiropractor for the first time in my life this week and found out I have quite a bit of spine damage. My lower back has compression in one of hte vertebrae and my neck looks like a whiplash victim. I went for three adjustments this week and it feels great already. Who knew you didn't have to have back pain and neck stiffness. What a relief! Also, I go back to my psychiatrist on Monday to get him to give me either smaller pills or liquid for my Wellbutrin and Lamictal because I haven't been taking it reliably since surgery and I am irritable as hell and lashing out at people. No patience and no focus at all. I pray that all works out with that because my fill is this coming Friday and I plan to tell Dr. K to fill it up. I don't care if I have to stay on liquids for weeks. I was suppose to only be able to drink for weeks after the surgery but that only lasted a few days for me and I've been eating regular food since day 7. Oh well, I"m sure we'll find my sweet spot. I'm under some additional stress right now too which is probably bumming me out. My boss's boss is a douchebag and just promoted my boss who has only been with the company for 2 months so I want to know where I can buy a penis since that seems to be the pre-requisite to getting promoted these days. Anyway, I am going to Denver this coming Thursday evening to get a fill on Friday morning and I'm staying at the hotel until Sunday so that I can study in peace and quiet for my PMP examination which will hopefully pump up my resume and earn me some more $$. Measurements as of today are as follows: Waist 45" - loss of 2 inches since 9/27 Arm 16.5" - loss of 1 inch since 9/27 Neck 17" - no loss Hip 50" - loss of 4 inches since 9/27 Thigh 27" - loss of 1 inch since 9/27 Wrist 7.5" - no loss New measurements...just for kicks and grins Calf 17.75" Ankle 10.5" BraBand (under boobs) 43" ON the plus side people are noticing that I've lost weight and I found a really horrible picture of me at work so I can post that as my before. My God I do look sick. I am fitting into my skinny side of the closet 18/20 although I don't fit into the size 20 jeans yet. I think I need to be down to around 230-235 before they will fit. Hopefully in the next few weeks. Ta ta for now.

I will be in CO once a month for the next few months and would like to meet up with people if I can arrange to be there when you're meeting>

I'm 33, have had PCOS since puberty and have never used BC at all. Have been married for ten years and just had the lap band on 9/24/08. My ovaries look like grape clusters and I have been bleeding nonstop for over a year because I refused to continue taking he BCP's because I was gaining more weight. I am wondering how many over 30 with advanced PCOS (hirsuitism, ovaries that look like grape clusters, and strange periods) have been successful getting pregnant naturally after lap band. Questions are as follows: 1.) Anyone 30+, banded, severe PCOS prior to band? 2.) How much weight did you lose before you became pregnant naturally? 3.) If not naturally, what treatments did you endure before becoming preg? 4.) Also, did you see a reproductive endocrinologist or a gyn? 5.) How much time elapsed between band and pregnancy? 6.) Anything else I should know? ...like what was tried and did not work? I feel like my time is running out and my chances for Down's are increasing but I'm not sure what I should do...endure the fertility cycle or just wait a while and see if it happens naturally. Thanks!

I would call your doctor, they look really red to me.

Oh yeah, I wanted to ask... Have you told people at work? I did and 95% are supportive but there is one chick I used to work with and a boss that is one layer up from me that have totally changed their attitude toward me for the worst since I told a few people at work that I had surgery. I am secretly hoping that they balloon up so they can feel what it feels like...although I have been overweight since 5 years old and never remember being less than a size 16 so there really is no comparison but it chaps my hide when people judge without knowing. This chick that I"m talking about used to be a skinny girl who made fun of fat people her whole life and was really hurtful and then she became really fat and started hating herself. As soon as she knew I was having surgery (back in May) she started taking the weight loss meds which has been successful for her but she keeps asking me like every 3 days how much weight I've lost like she's competing with me...ahhhh she is so annoying. I want to tell her I don't give a flying F*** what she does, I am on my own mission :rolleyes2: Anyone else have weird experiences?

I am planning on making my trip to Denver a day trip on the 31st. Why did you have to go back in less than 3 weeks? Was it just because you erred on the side of caution so you wouldn't have issues on the way home? I don't want to have to go back too soon because it is expensive to go back and forth from Vegas every couple of weeks. Natalie told me to make sure I eat something while I am there in case they need to adjust it. I'm guessing if I wait 30 minutes after the fill and go down the street and eat something then I shoudl know within an hour or so whether I will have any problems and can leave it all goes well. Otherwise I can high tail it back to his office for an adjustment. Does that sound like a reasonable expectation? I have to tell you all that I went to a seminar tonight put on by Allergan, the makers of the Lap Band and they had Khaliah Ali (Muhammed Ali's daughter), along with Caitlin Van Zandt from Guiding Light (I don't watch it but she seemed popular) along with Dr. Roizen the author of the "You, ON a Diet" series and it was a great presentation. After reading Khaliah's book I decided to have surgery so it was good to hear them in person and really see that it does work and have someone tell me first hand what would be happening over the next few months. If you haven't read her book, I highly recommend it. It's called Fighting Weight and it's all abouther journey. Also, the You, On a Diet book is really good for banders as well. There are great, do anywhere, no equipment needed exersizes and relaxation techniques in there that are really helping me. You can buy both books on Amazon for pretty cheap or they usually have them at your library.

How are you taking it? I have tried crushing it up and putting it in drinks, ice cream, smoothies...nothing seems to make it bearable. I have to take it 3x a day and it is soooo bitter that I start to throw it up. Anyone have a success story for me?

Come on fill#1...I can't wait!

Interesting... My doc told me to never take another pill again. I guess maybe he is just trying to prevent issues. I've been cutting it up the last several days but it is tedious. I am going to look into that liquid Wellbutrin. Thanks everyone!

Hi there, just out of curiosity how is your eating going? Are you able to eat a cup or more at a time? I'm just wondering how you know if you need a fill or not.

I'm new and I'm just wondering... How many fills did it take for you before you hit your sweet spot where the weight just seemed to come off easily and you felt great restriction?