Ang1982

I am fat. I was fatter. I'm still fat. Even with this surgery and all my tears I might always be fat. I'm working on it.

My parents, society, and my Doctors pushed me into this surgery and I went into it kind of blind. My Doctor, well he didn't tell me anything but how easy this will be. My nutritionist talked to me like I was garbage so I never went back.

Everything constructive I have learned here, from helpful people. Any encouragement in my newbie period, well I got it here. Thank you for starting this website Alex. Otherwise I might have had to have another surgery to replace the damage I had done with my body not knowing anything like I did when I went into this. I only wish I had found it earlier before I had the surgery so I would have been prepared.

Moderators, thank you for trying to keep the cruelty to a minimum. I know it can be a thankless job.

I still need support. I'm a slow loser...if I lose at all and I really dont. I don't come here as much as I do but when I do I am usually feeling really low. Thank you Lapbandtalk for being here when I need you.

This was almost as if I wrote it myself (with the exception of having the forums before surgery) I too am a slow loser. I was fatter, I'm still fat and I have a ways to go as well and my surgeon is a great person but has told me he won't give me anymore fills and I'm not at my sweet spot at all. I never had the option of a nutritionist, it was just me my band and the world. This place provided me with a lot of very great support and information as a new bandster and I am thankful for LBT and the support and people.

So I agree, thank you.

I got my shoes at a running store as well. Big difference as I was buying the wrong type of shoe.

Ang, great to see you! I haven't seen you post in a while. How's it going?

Things are going well, perhaps not as quickly (weight loss wise) as I would have originally guessed but I'm happy. Need to get in for a fill soon though I think. I lurk around every once and a while to see what's new and exciting lol. How are you doing?

As Krtork suggested I would go to a running store. I went to The Running Room here (chain, perhaps one near you) and they picked out what I consider to be a great shoe for me and it's made a world of difference.

Well it's been an incredibly long time since I posted on LBT. I occasionally browse through but not as often as I used to. I've had my share of ups and downs and plateaus that made me CRAZY but all in all this has been a fabulous experience. My main thing I need to get in control is not so much how much I eat as it is what I eat. Even with my fill level at a good amount (ie: I can't really eat before lunch time and even then it's touch and go) I do not PB at all, I will occasionally slime and feel uncomfortable but it always goes down. Lucky? Maybe lol. As for exercise I go through phases where I exercise a lot and then I will be lazy for a bit but that's going to change for good I tell ya!

Even though I'm not on here often, I do update my blog and post pictures on there. :scared2:

I'm so sorry to hear. Wishing you a speedy recovery back to good health! You will be in my thoughts.

Ang, there's going to be such a huge difference between your pre-op pics and your current ones! I can't wait to see!

I can't believe I never posted these here - I posted them on the main photo thread but not here, silly me!

First pic 319.5 lb pre surgery, Second pic Oct 30 256lbs

Where I'm thinking of going is 7500 US, in Canada it's easily 18-20,000.. obviously Mexico is cheaper - even with the exchange rate flights etc...

18-20,000 in Canada?! :smile2: Where do you live?! In BC you can get it done for $14,000.

An alternate suggestion would be to check out Dr.Kirschenbaum in Denver, CO - I believe he is approx $9,000 and has done MANY MANY bands.

I bought some new work out clothes yesterday (in a 1x!! woo hoo). I am just over over 10 months post op and -68.5lbs . The first picture is the day before surgery @ 319.5lbs. Work in progress, but it takes pictures like this for me to realize the change.

Great job!!! Now if you can rub some of the motivation off on me I would be posting something like this great post.

No really I am going today to the gym...I have promised myself! Good luck and keep on truckin...

Way to go girl!! Good on ya! And I too would take some extra motivation if you are sharing! hehe. I am going to the gym today to check out their membership packages though so hopefully they will be decent because I need to get my butt in gear if I am going to continue on my road of trying to join the police force in Canada (RCMP).

To be honest, I do not think that BC MSP will cover the lapband at all, no matter what the circumstances. Not to be the bearer of bad news but I could be wrong so good luck and keep us posted. BC MSP does cover gastric bypass except I believe that the wait list is currently 5 years or so.

Hi Vangirl,

My husband was banded by Dr. Woodhead. He won't fill anyone he didn't band any more. I got banded last week in Mexico by Dr. Ortiz. Honestly, it cost much less and I had way less bruising and pain after. We are both in agreement that Dr. Ortiz in Mexico is a much more experienced surgeon and did a better job. All my incisions were glued shut, flat, and I had minimal bruising, I could shower right away. My husband's incisions were sewn shut, swollen, bumpy, oozed for days and badly bruised. He wasn't allowed to shower for a week. I also had non of his post-op throat or belly pain. We both did have pain in our left shoulders from the gas used during surgery. I did major research and found Dr.Ortiz. I was not disappointed with my decision. Now I just have to fins local fills. Hope this info helps. BTW I have lost over 10 pounds in 4 days!!! My husband lost 60 pounds in 3 months. Banding is great!

I just want to throw out there about Dr.Woodhead, I was banded by him in January of this year and had a fabulous experience. I was not stitched shut by him, glued and normal and showering within two days. I had no shoulder pain from gas whatsoever, minimal bruising and no oozing. I think everyone's experience could be unique and I would not hesitate to recommend him to anyone. Personally, I again would pay the extra to know that I am set for life with aftercare and do not have to pay for aftercare (I know some people have to pay up to $200/fill and at the 5 fills I have had this year that would be another $1000). And no, Dr.Woodhead does not fill other peoples patients.

In my research if you are going across the border for fills (to Arlington or Everett, etc) you are going to have to assume that you will be paying at least $175 per fill and at our current dollar that would be almost $200 Canadian for a fill not to mention the cost of driving to wherever it would be vs driving to someone more local. I am absolutely not against someone going to Mexico or anywhere providing they have found and lined up proper aftercare before they go.

The reasons I went local over Mexico (high considered Mexico as well by the way - or Denver)...

1) After care and fills all taken care of at no additional expense

2) Cost of time and travel for fills (1.5hr drive to Dr.Woodhead from where I live in the fraser valley and no border wait) and how much time I would have to take off work to get said fills done.

3) If I got a fill that once it settled it ended up being too much or I needed to reach Dr.Woodhead in an emergency for an unfill I know that I would be able to get into him asap and that he would accommodate me the best that he could because I am his patient and he is responsible to care for me. I'm not just another random number at a fill clinic. God forbid I should have to make an emergency run for the border for an unfill and have to sit for 2 hours at a border crossing during peak times.

Those are just my opinions and experiences with Dr.Woodhead. There are a lot of people on this forum that have had surgery by him after I have (or before I have) that would recommend him absolutely and I would be more than willing to point them out if you need...

Good luck in your decision and congrats on making the choice to better your life! :biggrin:

(sorry if this seems like a long ramble!). Ps - if you visit my blog and go back into the archives I go into depth about everything w/ my experiences, how the day of surgery and Dr.Woodhead etc.

bandfan1 - thanks! Those pics are getting a bit old now, I REALLY have to get some new ones done. I think I will get my girl friend to take some of me next week and put up a new comparison.

WOWOX7 - looking fantastic!!!! (and adorable baby pics on the wall in the background!)

Happy Birthday Alex!! Thank you for everything you do for us!!

Yah I would mention it to your doctor too - that's weird! How frustrating for you!!

So I haven't been faithfully updating my pictures like I should have (took them, just haven't "spliced" them together yet). However I did take a couple of pictures in the mirror at work today. Not the greatest quality but it's something... 62 lbs down @ 262.5lbs

Alright folks, it's been 2 months, who else is going to be brave with me and post some "WIP" photos!

Until I saw mine I didn't have any idea that there was a visual different to how I looked.

But on the brave boots, show me what ya got!

I too have voted and will continue to do so as much as I can!! Good luck!!

So here it is -I had them done on Friday and it was great. With having little to no sensation from my breast reduction when I was 19 I barely felt a thing! So far no pain or anything it's been great haha. Easiest piercing I have ever had. I went with the barbells.

I will not be able to breast feed anyways due to the extremeness of my breast reduction (nipples completely detached as opposed to being just relocated) so the whole breast feed issue wasn't even a thought in my mind.

OUCH!!!!! Double OUCH!!!!

Heh, actually I don't expect it to really hurt. I had a breast reductioin 7 yrs ago and they had to detach/reattach my nipples so I don't have my sensation there anyways.

Nipple piercing can interfer with breastfeeding, I don't know if you were thinking of having a baby in the future.

Yah, like FF mentioned I think they have disproven this but I can't breastfeed anyways (due to the surgery mentioned above) but thanks for the concern on that regardless! :thumbup:

I actually pierced mine for that very reason, mine actually were INVERTED!! Even aroused they barely laid flat (I hate my boobs in all ways).

It definitely does make them stand out, even when I take mine out they go back to inverted.. with them in, they look full and poked out.

Pain wasn't THAT bad having it done, but healing is a major pain. I've had mine for years, and my left one still isn't done healing. If I put the piercing in it gets warm and hurts till I take it out. I only keep my right one in at all times.

I've heard healing is a bit of a pain. Do you have a ring or barbell? And it's nice to hear that it does make a difference with flat/inverted nipples because I hate that look too.

Any of you ladies out there with your nipples pierced? I've been contemplating it for a while now. I have pretty flat nipples (not exactly inverted just flat) and I am wondering if getting them pierced will make them seem less ... flat.

Thoughts, opinions, advice?

It certainly has been for me...and it continues and I'm in my 50's!!:w00t:

you know, I love that you ladies are embracing your new found sexuality and the increase in sexuality with age and part of me is all "YOU GO GIRLS" and then the other part thinks "wait my mom's in her 50's.... :eek:"

I have not been through this but I just wanted to post and send you my thoughts and hugs.

I used to do Undercover Wear/Bedroom Magic parties.

Thank you for sharing your story - most people on this board can and do relate. You are a brave, beautiful soul. One day, I hope you can see it.

I am going to second what minpinmom said as she said it perfectly and add in a *big hug*

I do admit that those types of errors do drive me crazy as well however I guess I get used to stuff like that from chatting online with my best friend through Instant Messenger. She is incredibly smart however, she is also dyslexic so typo's and spelling mistakes are a given with her.

Julie, *hugs for you* and good for you for taking the steps you need to be truly happy.

O2b, *hugs for you as well* I cannot believe what your soon to be exhusband said to you. It sounds like you too are doing the right thing.

I admire both of your bravery and courage and with you the best of luck.