HeatherA

Hi Courtenay, welcome! I look forward to meeting you next month at our meeting! Niki, I can't wait... it seems like the 7th is so far away! I'm excited for the fashion show, but more excited to meet up with our group... LOL!

I've not had heartburn once since getting banded... I did have it occasionally prior to banding. I'm also 3 months out and have yet to experience any hair loss. My most frustrating, and exciting, side effect has been not having anything to wear that fits correctly. LOL... I'm constantly digging around for things to wear and since I refuse to shop for clothes I think this side effect may continue for quite some time. :-)

Wow, that's pretty harsh. This is a discussion and support forum. If we can't come here and find support when we're having a tough time then why bother? We are being totally honest when we post the good, the bad and the ugly. Most threads have good descriptive titles, so just skip by the troublesome posts if you don't want to know the real story behind having a lap band. But if you're interesting in learning all you can before surgery then I definitely suggest you read as much as you can. This is not a magic cure-all, but rather a tool to help us in our journey. BTW... I've posted both good and bad posts and I try to be a descriptive as possible so people can really see what having a band is like. I love my band... and I am thrilled that I was able to have this surgery... even with the possible bad things that can happen. :-)

I've been blogging my journey since 2002... the good the bad and the ugly. You can tell through my blog when I'm doing well and when I've given up. The anger I've gone through and the successes. I've not posted a ton of pictures, but I also have a website that goes with it with lots of pictures and such. I don't update it as much as I do my blog. The link is in my signature...

Thank you for the support!!! It's nice to share with others that get it. I think I'm boring my family with my excitement. :-( I have another NSV to share... I am sitting here now wearing a size 18 pair of jeans that a friend had given me a few months ago. When she gave them to me, I couldn't even get them over my butt! LOL This is a good day and I plan to revel in it!

I am so happy right now! I was down another 1.5 pounds today and when I plugged it into my spreadsheet I saw some things that just made me stop and take a moment to process. Total loss: 42.6 Total percent lost: 15% Total remaining: 30% I have lost 1/3 of the weight I want to lose in 5 1/2 months! That potentially means that in a year from now I could be at goal if I keep losing at the same rate!!!! The best one of all... my BMI is now at 36.8 (down from 43.3) Some NSVs for today as well... I'm wearing my size 20 jeans again (even though they are completely out of style) I'm wearing a size XL sweatshirt that is not a MANS XL! I'm just taking a moment to savor the unexpected side effects of this journey. What a day!

Jill, It's great to hear from you!!!! I was wondering if you'd get in touch. I totally understand how you feel. I read similar stories often and it can get frustrating while waiting through delays. You won't regret it and I'm sure you'll do fantastic! I hope you will join us at our get-togethers. they are so much fun and we have a great group that meets. It's very different than the organized groups we have at Riverside. Please invite your friend as well. The more the merrier! Send me an email and don't be a stranger! :-) It was great meeting you!!!

Hippiegirl... you're in luck! That week we're also meeting on the 7th at Polaris for a bariatric fashion show put on by the folks at Mt. Carmel. I'm not sure what time it is yet, but that's a Monday and I'm hopeful it will be in the evening. Maybe you can meet us there???

Sue and Greg, glad to hear you all are home and doing well. I'm really amazed at what seems to be chaos over at Mt. Carmel and glad in hindsight that I went a different route. I hope things get better over there and that you don't have to keep waiting ages for appointments... especially as they should be a bit more regimented to keep everyone flowing along nicely. At least you are now banded and heading the right direction! The worst of it is over... even bandster hell isn't really that bad when you're expecting it. I think those that don't read or learn before surgery suffer with it worse than those that prepare as you have. My favorite saying right now is... just stay the course!

It's not really vomit per say... you throw up but it's not like when you are sick. The food never makes it to the stomach before coming back up so there's no acid involved... the slime is usually more like excess Water in your mouth that is trying to lubricate whatever food is stuck. I've been banded three months, I've had one big PB episode. I've slimed a few times but it was so mild that it didn't phase me. The benefits to this surgery so out weigh these little problems that I'm happy to deal with them. They scared me a bit before surgery, but now that I've lived them I realize how little they truly bother or affect me.

Welcome home SpecialK! Glad to hear all went well and you are home in your own bed!

I keep giving away my stuff as it gets too big on me. The only down side is I'm now running out of warmer type clothes to wear as most of my smaller stuff is summery because I was living in Florida the last time I weighed what I weigh today! I have summer stuff all the way down to size 13... I just wish the weather would change and give me a chance to wear some of those things!!!!!! I refuse to spend much on clothing and I am stopping myself from buying smaller sizes because I'm not sure what season I'll be wearing them in. LOL One thing we do here is take our too big clothing to our monthly support group meeting to share with others in different stages of this journey. It's been really nice to help others out and also occasionally get some smaller clothes in return.

Mods... I posted this in the wrong area. Can you please move this to the Ohio board. Thanks!

Columbus Support Group 3/18 - Riverside Just a heads up for you Columbus bandsters there is a support group meeting Tuesday at 6:30 at Riverside. It's located at the building at 500 Thomas Rooms H&I (Next to Riverside Hospital). There is also a meeting for Gastric Bypass patients just prior to the bandsters meeting. It starts at 5:30 in the same rooms. Hope to see some of you there!

Good luck today guys!!!! I'm thinking of all of you and wishing you speedy recoverys! {{{HUGS}}}

That's what my thought is also... I definitely don't want to be over filled! Thank you! I just hope it stays around for a while!

Thank you! I actually feel as if I'm losing super slowly. LOL. I just figured it out... since starting this process I've lost about 8 pounds a month. If I average just my weightloss since surgery I'm at about 8.75 pounds a month. So I am right about where I wanted to be losing at a rate of about an average 2 pounds a week. I'll take it! LOL Hi Barbara, I enjoyed my time in Nashville. My daughter was considering going to Belmont University and got accepted there so we thought we should go for a visit. It was my first trip to Nashville and we spent lots of time doing our favorite thing... shopping. We visited Coolsprings Galleria twice and spent the day at Opry Mills. Great place to walk! As for eating after banding, as long as you don't keep your fills too tight you will be able to eat. You will just not be able to eat in large quantities. Some people keep their fills way too tight and that scares me because I like to eat. :-) Good luck to you!

Hi everyone! I just got back from Nashville and restriction saved me again! I actually weighed in 1.4 less than 3 days ago when I left! Not too shabby and I passed right by that 40 pound mark! I'm a happy camper today. My next goal is just 3.5 pounds so I can get into the 230s! I wonder if I can do that before next week when I go to get my next fill? Speaking of my next fill, at this point I don't think I'm going to have him give me one. I seem to actually have really good restriction right now. We'll see what the week brings, but I do know that I would not want to be any tighter than I am right now. It's hard to imagine I might actually be at my sweet spot with only two fills, but it seems I might be at this point... even if it's only temporary. Here's an example of my restriction kicking in from my trip to Nashville... Ordered a turkey/bacon "club" omelet at Perkins. The omelet is basically small bits of turkey and bacon inside the egg with hollandaise sauce on top. I asked for the sauce on the side. Usually this comes with potatoes so I asked for fruit instead. I also ordered a mammoth muffin (to take home to my DH). In the past I have eaten this with the muffin, the potatoes and still have wanted more...not to mention I'd have guzzled at least three glasses of diet coke. Well, yesterday I ate just the meats from the omelet, one bite of the egg itself and most of the hollandaise as my dipping sauce. This process took me an entire half hour to accomplish. another example was a trip to Ruby Tuesdays where I ordered Quiche and salad Bar combo. I went to the salad bar and made a lettuce-less salad (I have trouble with lettuce) consisting of peas, edemame, ham, bacon, cheese, egg and then used honey mustard salad dressing. I also got a 1/2 cup serving of the pea/ham Pasta salad that I love and 4 grapes. I sat down to eat it and focused on eating just the Proteins first and then I was going to eat the veggies and fruit and if I had room then some of the pasta. I never made it past the proteins. My Quiche comes out and I take a tiny nibble and call it a day. I get a to-go box and take it back to the hotel with me to eat later. After we left I felt like I had eaten Thanksgiving dinner... I was so stuffed. I doubt it was a cup of food. BTW... when I ate the Quiche later that night, I had to pull out all of the chunks of chicken and just nibble on the egg. I didn't eat any of the crust and only about 1/2 of the Quiche itself. The rest went into the trash. It's still shocking to me when these things happen. This is only two examples, but it happens every time I eat out anymore unless I order a Soup. Now, there are foods I know I can eat more of. Mostly soft things and liquids. I still struggle with feeling as if I've not had enough to eat because my mind hasn't caught up with the fact that I can survive on small portions. The other thing for me is that I don't feel "full" per say while eating, what I feel is more like a dull pain (discomfort) in my chest/back and when I feel that I know that if I eat another bite before that pain goes away I will end up stuck and in much more agony. I have gotten this "pain" while drinking my Protein shake or even my Water. I was sorta expecting to just feel full... but that comes after the discomfort goes away. Anyway, I hope this post helps those of you just starting the journey. I'm trying to write about things that I wish I had known so that I could have been a bit more prepared. P.S. I haven't lost 40 pounds since surgery, just 40 pounds since starting pre-op. I've lost 26.2 pounds since having surgery on December 18!

Kim, I second everything SpecialK told you. The most important thing to get started is to go to different seminars. they are all free so you can go to as many as you want. I'm including information for you on seminar dates that I could find from the programs SpecialK mentioned. Keep in touch with us and let us know how it's going! Fresh Start Bariatrics (Riverside) Seminar Schedule Mount Carmel Bariatric Center (Looks like you have to call for their schedule) OSU Medical Center Bariatrics Barix Columbus (No seminar info, but they'll send you a brochure)

Susan, Welcome home! I can imagine how easy it would be to gain while out of town, living in a hotel and studying for a test! Major stress is right!!!! I'm sure you're already back on track and shedding that weight as I type :-) I look forward to seeing you at the next gathering!

I am thinking of all of you getting banded tomorrow! You're all in my prayers and I'm sure everything will go swimmingly! I even bet you'll be more motivated to walk the halls knowing you have each other there to walk with! K, I wanted to come visit you tomorrow but unfortunately my Aunt was diagnosed with ovarian cancer last week and I am going to be picking up extra shifts at work to cover for her so I won't be able to make it. I'll be with you in spirit though!

Thanks for the update K... I bet she was glad to see you! Niki, I'm glad you're doing well! Good luck with your post-op recovery. The seven weeks before your fill will fly by... just make sure to watch your calories and eat as if you have restriction and you will lose long before you get anything added to your band!

Niki should be in surgery now! I'm saying a prayer for a safe procedure and speedy recovery.

Carnie also did a season of Celebrity Fit Club after her baby was born. My heart goes out to her... for some reason I really relate to her and intently watch her struggle with this disease.

That's awesome Juli! I look forward to meeting our guest next month!! Thanks for letting us know :-) Now we just have to hope that we don't have another freak blizzard! LOL