Totallytater

I went to Dr. Kirshenbaum in Colorado for $9950. He is a very skilled and reputable surgeon. One of the most experienced laproscopic surgeons in Colorado. You only have to go to Colorado once. They do the initial consultation with the doctor and nutritionist over the phone. He gives free fills for 3 months, then they are only $15. (That's right- only $15). His fills are so reasonable that it doesn't cost that much more to travel back and forth to him for fills.

I really like Curves. I lost 50 pounds before I was ever banded and I consider Curves to be a big part of that loss.

My doctor said doing liquids was not necessary. I ate regular foods right away.

Also Dr. Kirshenbaum in Colorado. $9950 and I fly back and forth for fills.

I eat more spicy foods than ever

I am an arden feminist, however I could never bring myself to vote for Hillary. For Condoleezza Rice, yes! But for Hillary, no!

fatwidow, I enjoyed Garden of the Gods and the Pikes Peak Cog Railway very much.

Many people don't have a pre-op diet at all. My surgeon did not require a liquid diet. He only wanted no bread, no rice, no potatoes, no pasta for 10 days prior. I actually cheated on that too, but my liver was okay. But I had already lost 50 pounds on regular dieting prior to getting the surgery so maybe my liver was already smaller anyway.

I went back to work 5 days post op. Driving. Shopping. Everything. I think your requirement is definitely excessive.

I flew early in the morning after surgery. You will be fine that many days out.

You will need a recliner to sleep in for 4 or 5 nights.

Another vote here for Dr. Kirshenbaum. He is really great and offers the $9950 price to discourage people from traveling to Mexico. I have the utmost confidence in him.

I started eating real food at 7 days post op. I called my surgeons office for another reason and they said "are you hungry yet?". I said yes and they said to start eating and I did. I think it really helped me to eat. I didn't get so obsessed about food, because I was eating.

I am missing food too. I had my first fill on 12/15. I traveled by plane to my surgeon for my fill. On the way home I was stranded on a plane in Atlanta for 5-1/2 hours with nothing to eat. I was starving when I got to my home airport and I stopped at a Wendys to get a kid's meal. My plan was to eat 1/2 of the small cheeseburger and a few of the fries. I ate two small fries first and they got stuck. I will not eat fries again because it really hurt. Fries are my FAVORITE FOOD!!! And I can't eat them again. I don't really know how to feel about that- but I know I miss them already. This is going to be hard, but we can do it. My surgeon told me I was going to have to find a replacement for food. He said this is a very real problem. He suggested I try to replace food with exercise. I understand some people replace it with booze, drugs, or sex (and I don't mean with your spouse). I am going to try for exercise. I hope it will work.

Lara, You are not that big so you are not going to lose weight as fast as a 400 pounder is going to lose it. A lot of people that have really quick weight loss are also much heavier. I had my surgery on 12/11 and I have lost about exactly the same as you.

You will need 5 days I think. I had surgery on Wednesday and went back to work on Monday. I could have gone back on Saturday if the office was open. Good luck to you.

Fat Widow, Hi. Mona is right. Don't fly back the morning after surgery. Wait until late the next day or on the 2nd day after surgery. I flew out the day after surgery and I didn't think I was going to make it. Of course I did, but it was touch and go . The 2nd day after surgery I was much better. I would advise you to make sure your hotel room and your home has a recliner. You will need it for sleeping the first 4 or 5 nights. Go to Denver a few days early if you can. I had a great time traveling around the Manitou Springs/Pikes Peak area. I considered it a true vacation, instead of traveling for surgery. I had a fabulous time in the area.

Me too. Banded 12/11 and had one of the small ones that was just on my lip a little later. Now I have one of those big multi-headed ones under my lip that is SO VISIBLE. Great aren't they?

Living the Dream, Hi. I flew into Denver for my first fill on Jan 15th too. I didn't think I had too much restriction either, until I ate 2 small french fries last night and WHOA!!! I knew I was restricted then. Those suckers got stuck and it was rough getting them unstuck. I hear sometimes it takes 2 weeks for a fill to really get worked in right. Good luck.

Sunsett, I am liking the band fine so far. I have lost 16 pounds since my surgery on 12/11 and had lost 50 pounds prior to the surgery so I am finally starting to look like me again. I feel great and my recovery has been pretty quick and easy. Thanks for asking.

You have to get rid of the gallbladder first. Sorry. If it hasn't already, your gallbladder will make you SICK!!!! You don't need to be recovering from lap-band surgery while sick as a dog with gallstones. My gallbladder caused me to be sicker than anything in my life (for 5 years). You don't want to be sick like that.

Sunsett, When I started checking out prices New Hope Bariatrics wasn't doing surgeries in Charlotte. I checked with Dr. V and his prices were too high. Had I known he was going to team up with New Hope in Charlotte I would've probably gone that way, although Dr. K in Colorado is great too.

I actually wore knee-high leather boots yesterday. Admittedly, they were extra large shaft boots, but a few months ago they would not zip and yesterday they fit great. I actually looked good. This lap band is going to be great!

Stomach flu started this morning. I vomited 8 or 9 times before I could get off the floor and go get the Phenergan (under tongue). No more vomiting but plenty out the other end. I called my surgeons office and they said it would probably not be a problem. My stomach only had some apple juice in it so that's all that came up. But it felt like "real" vomiting to me. It didn't feel any different than before the band.

Here is a link to the David Tate Formula boot on Zappos. David Tate Formula (Black Leather) - David Tate Women's Boots If you order the "wide wide width" you get boots for a calf size of 18" to 20". They are sexy lace up boots on the back so you can get them to the size you want. Then you just zip them on and off on the side.