DtDtKty

Donali....any updates on Diane? I have been thinking about her and sending positive,healing vibes her way. She is so sweet and was so helpful in getting me scheduled for surgery. I sure hope she recovers quickly.

Welcome to LBT Pam. Congrats on your upcoming surgery date!!! You are well on your way to the land of the banded.

Sally....a big CONGRATULATIONS to you. You are amazing to be back at work so soon. Take it easy. Welcome to the land of the banded.

Heather...Glad you are starting to feel better. Just take it nice and slow and keep coming back here for support. I know you are frustrated, but stick with it and you will achieve your goals. Remember...at least 15 lbs. lost is not 15 lbs. gained. Hugs to you.

How awful!!! I can't even imagine. When I worked in a GI clinic I saw a few cases like this. That is why I decided to never consider bypass surgery. I will keep Jessica and her family in my prayers.

I would be interested in a new challenge. What are the "rules"? It looks like Monday weigh in. Do you only weigh on Monday? Is not weighing yourself the rest of the time part of the challenge? Let me know the details and I am there. Thanks for the "shout out" Jack.

Cindy....Based on your height and weight, your BMI (body mass index) is 37.6. That number should be enough to qualify you based on weight. Do you have any co-morbidities....like reflux, joint pain, sleep apnea, etc.? These are also qualifying factors. I would just go to your appt. and see what they say. I was banded in Mexico and while it was fine, I would have preferred to have been banded in the US. You could ask about co-pays, length of hospitalization, pain control after surgery...that's all I can think of right now. Good luck.

I'm so sorry to hear this. Make sure you get plenty of rest, drink a lot of water, take all of your meds, and walk as much as you can. Take care. Best wishes for a speedy recovery.

Congratulations Mary Ruth!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Best wishes for speedy healing and a smooth recovery. Welcome to Bandland.

Kelly and Guitarman....Is there an Isopure powder or are you talking about the clear drinks? Personally, I could not stomach the clear drinks at all. I was able to find some tasty Protein powders online though at www.bariatriceating.com. You can buy samples to try them out. I like Elite's chocolate mint flavor. It has 23 grams of whey protein (I think, I'm going from memory). I mix it with skim milk which has another 9 grams of protein.

Welcome Terri! I hope that the shoulder pain is easing a bit. I used a heating pad for about 20 minutes, followed by a cold pack for the same amount of time. The switching of the heat and cold can act like a pump in the body and help to move gas and fluid around. Hang in there and be as gassy as you can.

Don't give up. I know it's hard...I am having a hard time too right now, but hang in there. Today may be a "bad" day but tomorrow is a chance for a "good" one. Just keep posting, sharing your thoughts and feelings, and get all the support you can. You can do this. Hugs to you.

Congratulations Tracy!!!! I mostly had jell-o, gatorade, apple juice, and white grape juice my first week. I wasn't allowed to do Protein shakes, baby food, pudding, cream Soups, etc. until the second week. I may be the only one, but I actually liked the baby food. I think that the pears are the best and the bananas, while a little acidic, are good too. You may want to call your doctor to get a more detailed list of what he wants you to be eating right now. As I'm sure you can tell, every doctor seems to have their own set of rules. Best of luck to you.

Patty....Good luck with your first fill tomorrow! Let us know how it goes.

Hang in there Patty. I can only agree with with the others have said. Once you get your first fill, your real journey will begin.

I would call the office and ask to speak to your doctor's nurse, if that is not who you already spoke with. The nurse should be able to directly ask the doctor and get you your definitive answer. Until then, I would play it safe and just put your feet in the pool. Hang in there...hugs.

So I bought and tried the Source of Life Liquid vitamin. Today was my first dose and I have to say that I didn't really like the taste...actually I thought it was acidic and disgusting. Since I paid $25 for it, I will give it another go around tomorrow. We shall see. If it is as bad tomorrow, I think I will just stick with the Flintstone's.

Hi Sarah...I just arrived in the Portland area myself today, in fact. I just moved from Southern California. My husband has been here for five weeks and I was in CA waiting on the house to close. I am so excited to be here. We are currently living in an apartment in Hillsboro until our house in Beaverton is ready in July. I would love to get to know you. I am new at this whole banding thing and have not yet had my first fill but I am also looking for support as well. Feel free to email me.

Flower...It is completely normal to be nervous and scared. I too was scared that something would go wrong but everything was perfectly fine. The risk of complications is low and for me, the benefits of having the band placed far outweighed any risks. Take lots of deep breaths. Best of luck to you.

I would love to hear people's experiences of fills without fluoro vs. those with. The doctor I was planning on using has now put all fills on hold. I have heard of another fill doctor in the area but she does not have access to fluoro. This scares me a little bit. What do you think? Thanks.

So, I am moving to Oregon on Friday and had found a fill doctor in Portland. Not such an easy thing to do being a patient that was banded in Mexico. Anyway, I got a call from Dr. Eubanks scheduler this afternoon saying that all appts and fills for bariatric patients are on hold indefinitely. I guess that his liability insurance has excluded all bariatric patients so until they figure out what to do, he isn't seeing anyone for fills. I am really bummed. I was really looking forward to my fill. Now I have to find a new doctor. Oh well....this too shall pass.

Aileena...Hang in there. I know it's hard but you really do need time to heal before getting a fill. I have been in your shoes for the past week and am ready to get a fill too. My problem is just finding a doctor. One thing that is helping me in the interim is making sure to drink all of my Water. It really helps me stay full. Best of luck to you.

Nykee....I am sooooo sorry that this is happening to you. How awful! Are you still in San Diego or are you back home? I hope that the inflammation subsides soon and you start feeling better. I also hope that they can get your pain meds for you. Sending hugs and positive vibes your way.

Welcome Nancy! You have done such a great job. WTG on your loss thus far. Best wishes for decreased stress and increased weight loss.

Absolutely beautiful Penni! I especially love the look of your face in the second new pic...you look like a movie star. Beautiful dahling.