Sue Magoo

Red Tulips: You're doing fabulous on your pre-band diet. Congratulations! Sue

Kacee: What kind of store sells Nioxin? Is it an over-the-counter product, or by prescription? Please let me know. Thanks. Sue

Hi Stevie: I was at the support group last night at the Glasgow's. I was sitting next to Arthur with a light blue sweater on. If there's anything you'd like to ask, please feel free. I was banded almost 4 months ago, so I'm getting to be experienced. I got my 2nd fill this morning, so mostly liquids today, soft/mushies tomorrow. I was surprised/disappointed that the support group had so many people last night. He said there were 12 banded, and 5 pre-band, plus two of them, and the nutritionist. I was only at two other support group meetings prior to last night and they were alot smaller. I hope the next one is not as crowded, but we'll see. I find it is more informative and less claustrophobic with a smaller group. Anyway, I think they're great too. They seem to genuinely care about their patients and our progress. Good luck, again, any questions, let me know. No question is a dumb question. Take care. Sue

Rhonda: I live in Massachusetts and I don't like the cold weather either. Although it's alot easier to bundle up and walk when it's 30 than when it's 90. Get the best long jacket with a hood, great mittens (warmer than gloves) and an MP3 player and escape like I do. Yesterday I got the new Jordin Sparks CD and it was a great walk. My MP3 player makes walking so much better. Good luck, and forget the cold. Sue

Hi: Tuna is on my no-list. I ended up in the e.r. from a tuna stick just when I started mushies. The surgeon said to go because my band was still new and he wanted to make sure it wasn't displaced. Tuna doesn't appeal to me anymore because I threw it up for so many hours. I have to be careful and chew, chew, chew and wait, wait, wait for the next bite, but most other things work so far. Good luck. Sue

Molly: You go girl! Now that the hard part is over it's time to continue making a better, healthier you. Congratulations. Sue

Kim: Good luck with the repair surgery. I'm sure all will go well and you'll be continuing to lose weight soon. Don't be surprised if you have issues with Fluid retention after your procedure. Rest, relax, recover. Sue

Good luck for a speedy recovery. I thought it was a piece of cake (ooooooops, no cake now). Sue

Hi: I'd like to join in too. I'm hoping that with a second fill, and this challenge I will succeed. Let's do it bandsters! Name........Challenge start wgt.......current wgt.....chall. goal.....To go. Dakota1984....... 246......................243...................... 226................17 MJSafari............237.......................237.......................227................10 Wombat712.........162.......................162........................150.................12 SueMagoo............243.......................243.......................230................13 Going down.....down..........down..............down.................down............:whoo: Sue

Missy: How did you make out with the bleeding? Please let us know. Thanks. Sue

Wilem: I'm getting a fill on Wednesday too, at least I hope I am. I am disgusted today with how much I can eat today. I've been out of control, and had little restriction. I can't wait to get restriction back! A bite of stuffing with gravy, a couple of bites of squash, and some cranberry sauce, and I'll be happy. Happy Holidays! Sue

Is it possible that you are not allowing enough time after eating, before going to bed, to let your pouch empty? My surgeon was mentioning this problem at our last support group. He said one of his patients was working late so he got home late, ate dinner, and went right to bed. He had bad reflux because of it. I hope that's your issue because that's probably an easy fix. If not, please call your doctor. Take care. Sue

Hi: I get left shoulder pain occasionally when I've eaten too fast, or too much. It must be my "soft stop". It is miserable. I couldn't answer the left or right port question because mine is in the middle between the bottom of my rib cage. My doctor told me that my shoulder pain is linked to irritating my esophogus, and a nerve that runs along my esophogus and by my left shoulder too. My shoulder pain usually goes away after I have a pb. Take care. Sue

Joho: Sorry about your troubles. My Sister, my bff, has had one episode with MS, so although they're 99% sure she has it, they won't technically say that she has it until she has another episode. She has lesions on her spine that effect her left arm, and of course, she's left handed. Shortly after it started to bother her they put her on steroids too. The thing that I wanted to tell you most of all though, is that she's been on copaxone since shortly after they figured out that she probably has ms and hasn't had an episode since (about 9 months). The numbness has dissipated some, but not all the way. My Sister is a very strong woman. God gave her a special child. My Neice has cerebral palsy (severely disabled - 15 years old - quadriplegic), and my Sister has always been very strong for Danielle. One of the reasons why I want to lose this burdensome weight is so that I can help my Sister and my Neice if my Sister gets sicker. But so far, the copaxone is helping tremendously. Please take a look online for copaxone and discuss it with your neurologist. My Sister has to give herself one injection per day, but there's very little side effects compared to some of the other choices. Best wishes for finding a successful drug treatment for you. Take care. Sue

Missy: You should probably call your doctor now. Hope everything turns out okay. Sue

Please keep us posted. Best wishes. Sue

Ouch! I hope you feel better, and that your next fill is more comfortable, or that you won't need another fill. Thanks for sharing your story. Good luck. Sue

Nancy: I always "wolfed" food down too. I still have issues with it even though I've been banded for almost 4 months. I have two tools that help me. First, I bought a bunch of baby spoons - ridiculous, but it helps. Second, I bought some one-minute, hourglass type timers. I bought them at unclesgames.com. They only cost $1.50 each. I got five of them so that I can always have one whether at home, at work, or at a friend's house. As I take a bite I tip the timer over and I cannot have another bite until the sand is all the way through. Seems silly, but it helps prevent sliming, and actually allows me to eat a bit more than if I didn't use it. If I eat too fast I can only get about four bites in before I start to suffer and have to stop eating. Good luck. Sue

Hi: I've been using the salvation army store to donate and also to buy "new" clothes. I can't see spending $40 to $50 for a pair of pants that will only fit for a few months. It's good to recycle. All I do is make sure I wash them before I wear them. I've already started collecting 18's, 16's, and 14's, and I'm wearing a 20 now. I started with 26/28. Don't forget to donate your old clothes and take the tax deduction too. Good luck. Sue

Hi: I'm hoping that I when I've lost enough weight I will feel attractive enough to want to date. I've been without a man for way too long. I certainly couldn't do it at 324, not yet either at 241, but we'll see how I feel at 160. I might have to wait for tummy tuck. Not the end of the world if I don't, but I can almost remember what butterflies in the stomach can feel like. They certainly feel better than alot of "fat" stomach feelings. I was married for twenty years and got divorced two years ago. It's scary to think about when you've only been with one man and even that was a long time ago. I also want to ice skate again. I haven't skated in 20+ years, but I grew up on a lake. I'm going to try that in January (???)after I've lost 100 pounds. I want to look for a new job too. I need to make a move before I hit 50 years old. I've been putting that off because of that assumption that fat people are lazy. I've always been a hard worker and I don't want people to make that untrue assumption. I want to be able to sit on the floor and get myself up without using furniture to crawl over to. I want to use a regular bath towel instead of a beach towel. I want to fit comfortably in a bathtub to be able to soak for hours. I want to be around to play with my grandchildren, though I don't have any yet, and probably won't for five or ten years. I have a Sister with MS. She has a Daughter with CP. I want to be able to help both of them with physical things when they need it. Those are some of the things keep me motivated to lose weight. Good luck to all of you achieving your goals and dreams. I'm on my way to a better me! Sue

I got a bunch of one minute (hourglass style) timers that I put next to me when I'm eating. I've slimed too many times and this helps me to slow down alot, which in turn helps me to be able to eat a little bit more per meal. If I don't pay attention I eat way too fast and have problems unless it is mushy food which doesn't stay with me long, so the one-minute timer is working for me. I found them online and they only cost $1.50 each. I have one at work too so that I eat slower at work too. If you need to know where to buy them, let me know and I'll look it up. Good luck. Sue

I've never had to get an unfil as I've only gotten one fill and am anxious to get my second one, but based on what I've read from the other bandsters you definitely need an unfil or else you'll get sick. Good luck, and welcome back to the bandwagon. Sue

I'm excited about having two NSV's on the same day. I put a ring on that I haven't worn in 20+ years and it fits comfortably. Then, for the second, and even more exciting NSV, I have a blouse on today that is an XL, that's right, not 3X, not 2X, not 1X, but XL and it's not even tight! I love my band!:nervous Sue

I'm eating anything that I want to, in small quantities of course. I was following a modified weight watchers for two and a half months prior to banding, then I went through two weeks prior to surgery of liquids only, then two weeks of liquids post surgery, then mushies, then no limitations on what I eat, only limited by my little band friend as to how much I can eat. Of course, I'm not mowing down Cookies, cake, and ice cream, because I want this to work. I have had an occasional cookie, and I was having frozen yogurt once a week, but I had to walk to get it, so I felt like I earned these treats. I feel much better, and lots of people tell me I'm really slimming down. I started with size 26/28 and today I have a size 20 pants on. My top half is thinner than my bottom half, but hopefully it will all balance out in the end. Good luck, and let me know if you have any other questions. I'd be glad to help. Sue

Redantz: A pb is a productive burp - something comes up. When something gets a bit stuck a pb will usually take care of it. It's not a comfortable thing, but it's not as gross as regular throwing up because it doesn't sit in your stomach and get all that acid in it too. Good luck future bandster. I could pb every day and I'd still be glad that I did it. Sue