Sue Magoo

Syd: I believe that 24 hours off pain medication (other than over-the-counter tylenol, aleve, etc) is the rule my doctor used. So, if you're feeling well enough to get off pain meds for 24 hours then if not too uncomfortable you can drive. They seem to put the ports in alot of different places, so I imagine that could effect your comfort when driving. Mine is way up at the top of my belly, just under the rib cage, so it didn't effect my abdomen while driving at all. Best wishes for a quick recovery. Sue

jb: If you're going to the extreme of having the lap band this probably means that you cannot do it on your own with alot of success. So, I would go with the surgeon that will be the most strict because you probably need this type of support and enforcement. However, if you're going to crumble under pressure go with the surgeon that is less strict. My surgeon is conservative with the stricter rules. However, he's also a very nice person that I feel comfortable with. On one weigh-in I gained 3 pounds. I don't know which of us was more disappointed, me or him. Another thing to consider is whether they have support groups too. I find my support group helps alot. Whichever one you chose, please follow the rules they give you to be succesful. Good for you to put so much thought into picking the right surgeon for you. Best wishes. Sue

Hi: I've set a goal of 160 pounds and size 12. If I get to size 12 before 160 I might be satisfied, can't wait to find out. I was a size 12 before I had my baby (21 years ago!). I think that if I go below that I'll get too wrinkly as now I'm middle-aged, but if the saying is true that for every ten pounds you lose you lose a year of age, then I'm down to 36 now, not 48. Let us all have success! Sue

Hi Jeen: I had a hernia repair last year when I was banded. I believe that when they fix your hiatal hernia they sew some mesh in there. I recall having some pulling and alot of pain in the center too. However, I think it's so close to where my port is I'm not sure if it was hernia pain or port pain. Hope you feel better soon. Sue

Hi Kaye: Another thought is to try to find a free seminar in your neighborhood. I think you just have to put your zipcode in on the main lapband site. That's how I found my surgeon and it's working out great. Good luck. Sue

Hi: I use the program fitday. I also keep track using an excel spreadsheet because I can track percentage of excess weight lost, etc. I've lost 74% of my excess weight! Yippee. Sue

Julie: My thoughts are with you for Monday. Mostly I'm jealous, but I'm sincere in saying that I hope all goes well and that you're back on your feet in no time. Good luck and keep us posted on your progress. Sue

Eddie: Try to get there at least an hour early for your appointment and sit and relax for that hour to bring down your bp. Good luck. Sue

Hi Allison: I thought I hardly slept when I had my sleep study too. However, they did get enough data. I hope they got enough on you. Take care. Sue

Hi: You should probably slow down on your eating, tiny bites - slowly. I had alot of issues with shoulder pain and I can relate it to eating too fast or too much. My doctor told us that there's a nerve that goes by your esophogus up to your left shoulder up to your brain. He said that if you irritate your esophogus it can cause shoulder pain. I ended up ordering a one minute timer to use between bites to slow me down. It helps alot. I got this one minute timer on unclesgames.com. I found that if I took a hot shower and pounded that left shoulder with the hot Water it helped. Heating pad helps too. Hope you feel better soon and don't get this pain very often, because I know it kills sometimes. Take care. Sue

Hi: My doctor said that post nasal drip can make the band too tight and he would do an unfill if someone were having issues with post nasal drip. You might want to try liquid tylenol to help with the discomfort. Hope you feel better soon. Sue

having sore feet all the time having tight underwear wondering if a chair is sturdy enough to hold me sweating trying to be invisible being tired all the time feeling horribly ugly, gross, and lazy having to use the hand-held shower to rinse off those "special" places I'm sure there's a million more things I don't miss already and dozens that I still have to put up with until I lose another forty pounds. Sue

Christie: I'm glad you went to doctor. Good wishes to you for an uneventful surgery and quick recovery. Take care. Sue

What's up with the rep power assigned to each posting to the left under the poster's name and avitar? Sue

Hi: You recognize that you didn't follow the lap band rules for the first year. Sounds like you're ready now. Stick around on this site and keep going to support group meetings. You should probably set small goals and small rewards to keep you focused. Good luck. Sue

I only had to wait about three weeks from seminar to first consult with Dr. Glasgow. However, they are probably more busy as the good word spreads. The longest thing for me was getting all of the other appointments done. Good luck. Sue

kjeter: I know exactly how you feel. I've been flipping up and down with the same two pounds since 4/4/08. It's a bit aggrevating. I've even tried increasing my exercise, and that's not helping. Having my gallbladder out this Thursday, so I can already see 5 pounds of Fluid coming on - uggh! If you figure out the trick to getting past those three pounds, please share. I so wanted to be under 200 for my one year anniversary of when I started dieting, but seeing how it's 5 pounds away and I've only got 8 days, not looking good. Maybe he'll give me great pain meds so that I sleep for four days - not gonna happen, oh well! Keep on trying, and know that I will to. Take care. Sue

Hi: I can't say enough good things about the Drs. Glasgow and their entire Lap Band team. I was banded last July. The nursing staff was good at Caritas Norwood Hospital too. Let me know if you have any specific questions. I had Blue Cross too and they covered all except hospitalization copay of $500 and psych exam of $175. Both of the Dr's. Glasgow are great (kind, caring, and gentle) and their office staff is so helpful. Jayne Smith handles all of the paperwork and makes everything happen in the background as far as scheduling, and approvals. The monthly support group meetings are good too. Sometimes they're a bit crowded though. I cannot believe that I started my Lap Band journey last March, started modified weight watchers in April, banded in July and I'm down 119 pounds! What a year it's been. Good luck with getting through all of the preliminaries. Take care. Sue

Allison: We have even more in common. My Daughter goes to Bridgewater too. She's in her junior year majoring in elementary education and second major is English. If you come to support group sometime I'll show you her picture. Good luck with the sleep apnea, etc. Sue

Cindyluhu: I'll see you on the 22nd. I believe the plastic surgeon will be there. His name is Dr. John Fattore. I think he said he will be talking about tummy tuck in his next visit to support group. I don't remember if he said he'd be at the next support group though. See you next week. Take care. Sue

Hey Allison: I couldn't find the right thread to send this on, but I remember that you're going for your sleep apnea test this week. I just wanted to mention that you might want to line up a friend to help you out with getting the glue off of your head the morning after the test. They put things on your body to read what's going on and they have to glue them to your head. I have a Daughter that's 20 and I know how important hair is to young women so you'll want to have someone help you out with this. Good luck. Sue

No. I wasn't overweight until I was 28 - after my daughter was born. But now I'm less than 50 pounds from goal. What a great 11 1/2 months it's been. Sue

FABULOUS! :smile2:

Sherry: I'd like to join your group next time you get together. I'll keep an eye out to see when it gets scheduled. I look forward to meeting you and the rest of the local bandsters. Sue

Hi Cindy: Thanks for the good wishes. I'm sure all will go well with the gallbladder surgery. The Glasgows are great doctors and the entire group is so helpful and caring. We've missed you at support group, however it's been kind of "zooey" there lately. Sometimes there are just too many people there. Last time we had support group was the same night as the train crash in Canton and Dr. Adam was called away and Dr. Arthur and the plastic surgeon were being interrupted during the group meeting. It was crazy. Hopefully next time will be less people, and hopefully the doctors won't be called away to more pressing issues. Maybe I'll see you there on the 22nd. Congratulations on being so close to goal! I am very jealous. I feel like I'm never going to get there, but I have a heck of a nerve to complain having not been banded for a year yet. I started as size 26/28, and now I'm wearing 18's comfortably, in fact some are very loose, but 16's are impossibly tight! My personal goal is to be a size 12, but I'm not sure I can get there without a tummy tuck. Hopefully I can because it's going to take some time to save for tummy tuck - will cost more than $10,000. Take care, and keep in touch. Sue