Ang1982

I'm currently awaiting my band but i couldn't have said this better myself...

So I have a total newbie question... but how exactly do you measure food per say? Like I can see measuring stuff easily like veggies etc, but how does that work with things like meat?

This was my list that I made and emailed my mom when I told her I was thinking about the surgery (haven't had it yet) except I did it as my "I don't want" list.... I don’t want to …not be able to walk into any store in the mall to be able to buy clothes and have to go to the “plus size” store and pay more money. I don’t want to …feel like I’m out of place in public. I don’t want to …feel squished going to the movies or riding a bus or an airplane. I don’t want to …be that fat person that no one wants to sit beside. I don’t want to …be trying to constantly be struggling with various numbers of diets or regimens for the rest of my life and feel like a complete failure when I have a hard time with them. I don’t want to …be too embarrassed to dance. I don’t want to …not be able to wear a fancy wedding dress should I choose because I don’t want to look like this in a dress like that. I don’t want to …not be able to chase around after my kids some day. I don’t want to …not know what its like to be thinner. I don’t want to …not feel comfortable going to a public beach. I don’t want to …feel uncomfortable in my own clothes. I don’t want to …overhear comments (or have them said directly to me) that aren’t very nice. Compliments are easy to forget it’s the mean comments that you remember for a long time.

Those look great Rain! Nice booty indeed. I can't wait to lose my weight and have the little enjoyment of NSV's like this. And on a side note, its recommended to buy jeans a bit on the tight side to begin with as they will stretch out fairly quickly.

I haven't been banded yet so I haven't lost my weight but that is one of my fears. People tell me I have such a pretty face but I think I'm "okay" not anything spectacular by a long shot, however, I have NEVER been thin so I have no idea what I will look like and it has crossed my mind a few times that I will be thin and ugly. Vain, I know.

Now this is my uneducated brain here but ... isn't it illegal to tape/voice record someone without their knowlege and consent? Or am I crazy?

Huh I hadn't heard of snopes before, I will have to check that out. Another of my email pet peeves on forwards and stuff like that is... okay I don't mind the odd cute or funny forward perhaps some of the adorable animal pictures or funny short jokes, whatever. What does bug the heck out of me is... people who forward emails without deleting EVERYONE'S emails that it was previously sent to in the forward. Firstly, I don't need to see bagillions of random peoples email addresses before I get to see the content of the email and secondly, I don't want a 100 random other people seeing my email address as other people forward the email along without deleting. So people - delete the email addresses from the last sender when you forward and DO THE WORLD A FAVOUR - USE BCC INSTEAD!!!

Okay so my curiousity got the better of me and I emailed his office. I fully expected a member of his staff to answer that email as opposed to him and was delighted to see that he responded directly. I can tell from his email that he was a bit on the defense as he may have thought that I was saying he didn't know anything. So I've since emailed him back with an apology if he misunderstood my intention in the question... What I asked: "in my consult I believe he told me that they do not need to use sutures when doing the Midband. Can you please tell me if I am recalling this correctly? The reason I ask is with futher research and talking to other Lapband patients (not of his) they informed me that their surgeons were rather adament about using sutures to hold the Band in place. I know not doing sutures is a fairly new practice for him. Could you please tell me why again that he does not do these. And are having sutures an option if this is something that I felt strongly about?" His response: "You heard correctly. With the MIDband, according to the manufacturer, and Dr. Frerer, who personally has placed over 5000 bands (1000 Swedish Bands, 1500 Lapbands, the rest MIDbands), anterior plication stitches are NOT necessary. Therefore, I do not place these stitches when I place these bands. They don't seem to do any good, at least not with the design of the MIDband. Dr. Patrick Yau, perhaps the most experienced Canadian bariatric lapband surgeon (Toronto) also places MIDbands, although he is trained in Inamed bands, Swedish bands and MIDbands. There are six adjustable gastric band companies whose products are available for us to place in Canada. If I place a Swedish band (used in Europe and around the world for years, just approved in the USA Sept 28th, will be marketed this January on TV etc), then I will place anterior plication stitches, per the manufacturer's recommendation. I am trained to place lapbands, but I need to be proctored for two cases before I can place these on my own. I have chosen not to pursue this at this time, as I see no advantage of this band over the Swedish band or the MIDband. Remember, virtually all of the USA patients have lapBANDs®. Their products are different than the ones that I use. Not better, not worse, just different . until a few months ago, USA surgeons could ONLY use one product. how could they possibly comment effectively on another band that they have no experience with? Further, most USA surgeons have only done the lapband since 2001, and not the 1990s like the Europeon surgeons. To answer the latter part of your question. I prefer placing the MIDband at present, and if that is the band we go with, then I will NOT place any plication sutures. If we place a Swedish band, then, per the manufacturer's instructions, we will place anterior plication stitches. That is the choice. The price is the same with both of these. I am comfortable placing both of these. I think that the weight loss will be the same with both of these. The MIDband people suggest that there may be less complications with their band, and that it is softer (it feels softer, with no rigid parts) and that their patients report that the band is more comfortable. How can they say this? In France, bands are covered as part of their 'MSP'. Some patients with failed bands from other companies may have had a MIDband placed later, and reported on the differences. I am impressed by how easily it is to place. I was most impressed by the technical skills of Dr. Frerer. If he thought stitching was necessary and useful, he would do it. " There you have it. I am comfortable with his response and with him as a surgeon in general and will continue my persuit of the band in his capable hands. (sorry for the bad formatting, I was just copy pasting from my email)

No I understand what you are getting at, in our consult he explained how he did use sutures and now doesnt for "blah blah blah reason" (sorry I completely forget, although I know it had to do with the width of the midband). When I phone to make my other appointment though I will inquire as to the reason again. As you said, could very well be that I misunderstood so we shall find out

I don't think I was misunderstanding as I'm almost positive that he said that the recovery time would be slightly better due to the fact that they don't have to suture. I have to phone his office to book my appt with the anaesthesiologist (sp) so I will inquire about it then. If he does indeed not suture anymore should I request that he does?

Hmmm now you all have me wondering about the fact that my surgeon now won't be suturing with the Midband. Do I need to be concerned? When he explained it at the time it made sense but of course that was a while ago and now I don't remember.

My surgeon told me in my consult that with use of the Midband stiching is not required due to the extra width of it, etc. Perhaps that is where some confusions will lie.

Congrats! What a great NSV! I remember after my best friend had Gastric Bypass surgery when she was down quite a bit of weight and we were out to get her some new clothes (she had some "hand-me-down's" from a cousin who had gastric a while before her that she was using in the interim) and this was one of our first shopping trips. As we were in the various stores she'd find something she liked and grab a size then I would take it away from her and replace it with the same thing but at least 2 sizes smaller. She was ADAMENT that they would NOT fit. And along the way to the change room I would pick up the occasional thing and she would tell me "it's not gonna fit!" - I would tell her - "shut up and try the damn clothes on".... Low and behold they fit and of course they looked great. She couldn't believe it. It took her a couple of years to be able to look at an item of clothing and know it would fit without thinking it was too small, she still occasionally has the odd moment where she relapses back. Grats to you, I can't wait until I have my first NSV like that

Rain, Glad to hear you are home and doing okay and that your DH was there to take care of you. Wishing you a speedy recovery, Angela

Thanks Paula Unfortunately, I do not think I will be able to join as I will be having my surgery with Dr.Woodhead. Funny now when I look back at my original post and questions and worry about referrals. I didn't even get a referral, I just phoned up Dr.Woodheads office and said, "hey I want a band, how do I get a consult" lol, they sent me a questionnaire and Bob's your uncle I got an appointment. Who'da thunk it. Lol.

Great! Thanks Green! I knew I had seen a few in signatures but for the life of me could not remember who's signatures I have found them in. I will have a look at their posts to get a link. I hate to PM and bug if I can find it myself on their post. Thanks again =)

Thanks! I've actually already had my consult and am lining things up with Dr.Woodhead for surgery in January (due to work schedules). However, this info could come in handy to anyone else who is wondering what I did

Hey guys, wasn't sure where to actually post this question... but as most of you know I'm working to start my band/weightloss journey and was wanting to do an online journal/blog to share as a link on here as well as for my family/friends if they are at all curious. However, being relatively unfamiliar to blogging/online journaling I am in need of a recommended website. Anyone have one that they can suggest? Thanks all! Angela

Actually recently what I'm trying to get myself into is every morning for breakfast I make a slim fast shake and take it to go, drinking it on my drive to work. I bought one of those "Magic Bullett" (not exactly, knock off brand but same idea) blenders and it's awesome. I use my non-fat milk, slim fast optima vanilla meal replacement powder with a small shot of vanilla extract, and some frozen berries, blend it up and good to go. And for dinner trying to get more into eating the things like "Lean cuisine" type meals.

The only two "normal" sized people I have referred to myself as fat to are my best friend and my boyfriend. Both are former "fat" people as well. Best friend lost all her weight 3+ years ago with gastric and is now "normal" and boyfriend lost a bunch of weight (before I knew him) on his own. Either then those two specific people, no I've never called myself fat to anyone that's "normal" to the best of my recollection. I don't like being called fat, why should I call myself that - especially in front of people who can obviously see that I'm fat and don't know what it's like to be me.

Well kudos and props are given to them it is exactly it - lets reinterview them in 3-5 years and see where they are at. My boyfriend lost a LOT of weight on his own. probably 200'ish lbs by working out like crazy, and not consuming very many calories. This was before I met him. He doesn't work out anymore (medical condition currently trying to figure out what it is - really bad / sore joints = cant work out) and well we don't eat the greatest so he has gained some weight back. Maybe 50 lbs but he's gained it back. We are both looking forward to losing weight with my band. I lost 30 lbs right before we got together on a "fad diet" then it came back and brought another 30 lbs worth of friends . I also know a couple people who have had gastric bypass 4-5+ years ago, and they have also gained weight back. . .

Thanks Jack, and everyone else. I really do think that the hardest part/the part that gets me the most is that I *HATE* cooking and the idea of planning dinner, etc. drives me crazy. Hmmm... I shall conquer the beast lol.

Eeek! I hope I don't have issues with chicken! That's one of the only meats I usually eat. Guess I'll be eating a lot of fish?

Oh, and please don't take any of this as me attacking you or anything of the sort because that is not the case. Everyone was very supportive of you in their posts and in much agreement that I couldn't help but throw in my 2 cents as I, unfortunately, did not agree with them at all. I am however supportive of the fact that yes you should get compensated for doing all the leg work, etc. it was more the timing/circumstances of it all that raised my silly eyebrows. I do hate to see people taking advantage of good people and their skills! Keep us posted on how everything turns out! And I think another couple people asked if you had a website? I don't recall seeing a response however would be excited to see it as well if you do!

Yikes! That is very crazy and I'm assuming you went with the option of washing them yourself and finding a new establishment to take your cleaning to because you didn't like the fact that they charged you more then you were used to paying/expected? And I'm sure we are not the only place that you have told this to am I right? Basically what I am getting at is - if you don't care if she chooses to use your services again ... for every person who tells one other of a good experience they usually tell ten others of a bad one. But, since you didn't agree on a price in the beginning (sorry if I missed you saying that in your original post) then I hope you can get the money from her that you most definitely deserve! And she should be so lucky to have you make a dress for her as I'm sure it will be lovely! =)