want2bmeagain

Faith thanks for the info~ Also, thanks everyone else who responded! I ordered online the Back to Basics personal mixer that came with the extra blade, cup, and 2 containers. I found it on Target...I am excited to get it!!! thanks for your help!

I am getting to the full liquid stage and need advice on what kind of drink blender/mixer to get. I bought a Magic Bullet, but it is still in the box..I wanted to get opinions first? What kind is your favorite? why? and any other advice you have! thanks!

I'm now 3 days out, and today is the first day that the pain has subsided somewhat. I am so happy I made the decision to get banded~now I can't wait for the swollen tummy to deflate some! I do think heading into my band date was much worse mentally than since the surgery. I was a flippin mess ~ just terrified! The mental part is doing ok, and my doc is very reasonable with what we can have for liquids. His concern is DO NOT THROW UP!! Besides that, he said to try in liquids what I am comfortable with, and take my time trying. I have been so hungry, that today I am trying watered down Campbells cream of potato soup..I put it in the blender long enough to liquify all the potato chunks, but not too long or it gets frothy (yuk)! It is helping with the hunger ~ woo hoo! I am wrestling with different protein drinks, so hopefully they will be fully on board soon! Up until today, I had been crushing my prescription pills I had ~ OH MY GAWD ~ horrible and bitter in juice. So, today I am using my pill splitter, and splitting till I have really little pieces, and taking one piece with a sip of water. It takes longer, but I don't taste the nasty bitter taste! What a learning experience! How are the rest of you feeling? Have you learned any tricks to get through this time?

Hey everyone! I am alive! I was so encouraged by your posts! Yep, had it down to the minute!:bounce: Ok, I am doing pretty good...Dr Kirshenbaum is ABSOLUTELY incredible!!! Can't rave enough about him! I am having more pain than expected, but it's me. Same thing happened when I had a simple (vaginal) hysterectomy. But, it isn't anything that kid's liquid motrin and percocet isn't helping:clap2: Wow, can't believe I really did it!!! woo-hooooo Hope all my bandsisters and brothers today are doing great, and those tomorrow sail on through!! I'll check back soon also, keep us up to date on how the rest of you new bandsters are doing!!

Surgery's in 2 hours and 48 minutes! Ran down to the hotel computer to visit for a quick minute! thank you for all the well wishes! I means sooooo much! You are all incredible people!!!! I will check back as soon as I can! :whoo:

I'm right on your heels! 9/11 at 1:00, Dr. K in Denver, CO We're getting closer!!!

Any bandsters who quit before surgery? after surgery? Smoked before and after? How did you quit, if you did? I know all the horrific stuff about smoking~ I am working on quitting, am down to half of usual cigs per day~ If you couldn't quit before surgery, did you have problems with anasthesia? I am trying hard to totally quit, but haven't gotten there quite yet.

September 11th! Gettin' excited! Dr. Kirshenbaum in Denver!

anyone from Western Colorado?

Scheduled for Sept. 11th with dr. Kirshenbaum in Denver! woo-hoo! anyone else going in to him that day?

My surgery is scheduled for Sept. 11th with Dr. Kirshenbaum in Denver! Was both an easy and tough decision all at the same time! Ok, here are my questions for you who are going or have been there! ~ Are you truly glad you were banded? ~ If you were self pay (I am) how did you pay for it? Do you have any advice about it? ~ How have you physically felt since your surgery? ~ Is it all you expected? I am so excited, but have moments of doubt, and being mad at myself that I haven't been able to get the weight off my myself. Any input? thanks!

Hey, can you send me a PM? my computer is freaking and won't let me send one out!

My surgery is scheduled for Sept 11th. My little doubting thomas brain had a freak attack at the date, at first! But, it will be a new beginning for me! Where are you from? I am on the west slope of Colorado, about a 5 1/2 - 6 hr. drive away! Yippee, we'll almost be banster twins!

Cheri52 ~ ahhh, another tool soul mate!! We wish we actually knew more than we do, but have managed to build a small deck, shed with deck on top, trim windows, baseboard, fencing, raised garden beds, windowboxes, stuff like that...would LOVE to know how to add a room to the house though! Oh, and the replacing faucets, showers, install the garbage disposal, cabinets...ya know, all the fun stuff that saves gobs of money to do yourself! We have learned to figure out everything we have to so far, and more all the time! So, you traded your nail gun for a stethescope? that's awesome! My partner works in landscaping, I work in the insurance/mutual fund realm. And, she is about 5'6" and maybe 125 lbs...egads! but, my shrinking will come! So, everyone...guess what?? I committed..surgery scheduled in September!!!:clap2: Dr. K in Denver. Hey, how is MsDad doing? I haven't seen a post since I discovered this group! Dezbus, Bozlee, TriVon, Baybeeg, Juli, Michiganer, Luci, Chris, MsDad, Mgh (I hope i didn't forget anyone!)...I look foward to getting to know all of you more! You are all awesome..keep up the good work! journey on!

I am scheduled in Sept for Dr. K! Can you believe it??? thanks so much for your input everyone!

Awesome thread! I had fun watching MsDad's journey from before to after! I am at the before stage, just making the decision to finally do this for myself! :clap2: I am a bit nervous, to say the least. Plus incredibly excited at the prospects. Maybe it's a good thing I will have to be self pay, at this stage I might not pass the psych eval an insurance company would want@:faint: My partner and I are in our 12th year together, two kids from my previous marriage. She is supportive of my getting banded, but scared for safety, etc. It cracks me up that with so many couples we have big and small together! She is about 5'6" and maybe 125 lbs. It really sucks when size 8 pants are too big!!!! Well, just wanted to say hello, meet some fellow banditos (or future banditos like myself), and enjoy this GLBT group! Anyone from Colorado? Btw, MsDad, we have a table saw, power drill, router, skillsaw, and an air compressor!! But, damn, were cute! Funny though, I just love designing and building stuff, after I take off the dress and makeup! LOL

Hello I have been reading through over 100 pages of the other Dr. K thread and the posts are wonderful. Since forums produce friendships, a lot of the posts weren't directly about being banded by Dr. K., but about general topics that friends discuss ~ which is totally great, but I was having a hard time reading all the pages! I was wondering if those who have been banded by him could tell me about the experience..the pros, the cons. I had been told to not even consider a surgeon who has performed less than 500 procedures, and I think he's at a tad over 150. Since I am self pay, and live in Colorado about a 6 hr. drive away, it seems like he could be a great doc for me. But, I worry about how many bands he has placed. Should I worry? How did your surgery and after care go? What does he charge for fills? Please just give me any thoughts you have! I am getting ready to apply for a loan, but I have to have a doctor! My other consideration is a great surgeon in Mexico....

I live about 6 hours from Denver and about 4.75 hours from Colorado Springs. I was wondering if there was a fill doc in the Springs because my daughter lives there and it would make travel easy and no hotel expense... I am definately torn on what to do. I would actually have less travel (no drive to Denver) time for surgery going from where I live, direct flight into Mexico. Flying from here to Denver is a little plane that holds about 16 people and costs almost as much as going to Mexico! But, I then need to line up a fill doc. There is supposed to be a great one who supports the Mexico docs. He's in Salt Lake City, which is about as far as Denver. The Springs would be more convenient though. Ugh..all of it makes my head swirl. Lots of research, thoughts, finances, and taking all this great advice! Let's hope I don't chicken out with all it takes to even get to the starting gate. thanks for all your help and encouragement!

Wow, thanks for the responses, and the private message (I will try and email soon!) Please keep the info coming About Dr. K in Denver area - do you know how many lap bands he has done? I had read somewhere else on the board that it is around 100, but I don't know for sure. I emailed his office and asked how many he has done, but they didn't respond. His fill price is wonderful, though. I am glad to hear that others drink coffee! :clap2: I am still researching and reading. I am excited about what the lap band could do for me, but terrified at the same time about surgery. At this rate, though, my weight "aint" doing me any good either. I am so far relieved and encouraged of how much experience a couple of the docs in Mexico have. Has anyone heard of any fill doctors in Colorado Springs? thanks!

PLEASE POST BACK! I posted once before (ABOUT Colorado docs and didn't get one post back :cry (waaaa)I need all the help I can get! I have been reading and researching lap band for a while and am getting really close to making the commitment! I have been so inspired by reading this board. But...I have some questions for you experienced banders! 1. with the drastic diet changes (I've read some can't eat any chicken, some can't eat any bread or steak) how do you cook for your families, satisfying them and yourself? 2. With the pre and post op liquid and pureed diet, how hard was it to get through? Since we all weren't overweight from just looking at food, I thought you'd have great advice about how to handle the change..or, was it not that hard because you just didn't feel like eating anyway? 3. Ok, please don't laugh at me on this question...I love my cup of home brewed starbucks every day. I read no coffee....OMG. Is that true? Did any of you sip coffee? 4. I read that many have to travel long distances for a fill. That will be true for me also. I can handle that, but have been a bit freaked out since I watched the "Big Medicine" show where Dr. Davis' sister/daughter had to go to an incompetant ER, then fly to Houston, to get some Fluid taken out of her band because something was stuck. How common is that??? Is it more common to have something stuck, then wait it out without having to drive or fly 5 hours to get unfilled? I don't want to be in a dangerous situation! 5. I will be heading to Mexico...self pay..very impressed by a couple of the doctors there. It is just a matter of choosing and committing and getting financing! I can't wait to get your input! Thanks sooo much!

Hello I have only been pondering and reading about Lap Band so far. It will have to be self pay because my ins. won't cover it..they have an obesity surgery exclusion. Anyway, I live on the western Slope of Colorado and can not find a doc in Grand Junction, and have read of a couple in Denver. Can anyone recommend a doc and tell me about your experience and costs? thank you so much!!!:help: