Apryl Showers

Dr. Brinkley was great! She explained every step, took time to answer all my questions and I never felt rushed at all. And the Lidocane was great...he he he...couldn't feel a thing!

My take on the sex discussion is this..... 1. If you want to read it...read it....if not...go read another post. 2. As long as we keep the discussion from being too pornographic what's the big deal? I actually like to hear what everyone has to say on this subject because let's face it...as you lose weight your sex life is bound to improve! And I like to know if what I am experiencing is similar to what other bandsters are going through. (Maybe emotionally that is....I don't need to know ALL your dirty little secrets....he he he). 3. There is always at least one sore loser in every bunch so why let them ruin our day? : )

I think they mean to try and avoid taking them on a regular basis. I take Excedrin Migrane every once in a while and I am sure that is ok. And like I said...I am not 100% sure what drugs are considered NSAID's for sure. : )

This is what my doctor told me, but I have heard different things from different bandsters. Eat slowly, take small bites, and chew each bite like 30 times (until is mush). When you start to feel full...stop. No drinking liquids one hour before or one hour after you eat. Don't eat foods that are solid/liquid combined (Cereal with milk etc.). No sodas. Eat your protien first, then your veggies, then your fruit, then last of all your starch (potato, noodles). Avoid NSAID's (non-steroidal anti-inflamatory drugs)...I think these are things like Aleve, Tylenol etc. Supposedly they can contribute to erosion. Um...I think thats it! Good luck!

I am scheduled to have a fill with Dr. Brinkley this Wednesday and I am a little nervous because I have never had a "blind" fill. In fact, I have only had one fill since getting my band, and that was with Dr. Martinez and he did it under flouro. I was just wondering what to expect at my appointment. I know some of you use Dr. Brinkley and I was hoping for some input. Also, can I eat or drink before my appointment and how long will it take? I am just nervous because she doesn't use flouro and I don;t know if it will be as easy as it was with Dr. Martinez. Thanks! Apryl

You girls are a trip! It is noce to know though, that we are all in a pretty similar boat....our husbands just don't think before they open thier big fat mouth's. Now my husband is a little different but still just as annoying. Now whenever we go out to dinner he always has to complain that I am no fun to eat with because I only take a few bites and I am done. I am so sick of hearing this...so what if I only take a few bites...doing this has allowed me to lose 80 pounds and I don't really care. He keeps on eating till he is done so what does it matter if I don't clean my plate? Soetimes I just want to strangles him!

LOL...that would certainly hit home for my hubby!

It is a strange feeling to suddenly be the center of attention...especially after spending so much time trying to blend in and not be noticed. My advice... 1. Learn how to graciously accept a compliment...you deserve it. 2. Enjoy the attention! 3. Realize that you are deserving of it. Congrats!

Wow...that is amazing!

I hear my husband saying those things but I suppose he needs to reach his conclusions the same way I reached mine.

My husband is the same way. When I first decided on surgery he was not supportive at all. He said it was the easy way out and why don't I just diet and exercise (duh...why didn't I think of that)? When I had my surgery he said he was going to start a diet with me...maybe to prove he could do it on his own...(unlike me)...well I am sad to say that he has not been successful. I really worry about him and when I try and discuss it with him he just brushes me off. I have asked him if he would have the surgery and he says he wouldn't even consider it. I don't know what to do...I try and prepare halthy meals and he complains. He refuses to eat anything but meat, potatoes and processed junk. He works very long hours (he owns his own business) so I don't really have any control over what he does during the day. He then comes home at 11 pm and eats KFC or McDonalds. I really fear for him. We even joined the gym and whenever I try and get him to go he refuses. I don't know what else to do about him. He is only 33 but if he continues the way he is...he won't be around to see 50. I don't know how to impress upon him the fact that he is slowly killing himself. I don't have any ideas for you Debra but I feel for you.

I had my surgery in Mexico but when I was trying to locate local after care I called the Harrisburg location. I was not impressed. The staff is not professional and they couldn't provide the answers to any of my questions. First I was told, yes, they would do fills on mexico patients...then when I called back two weeks later to double check and make an appointment I was told that they don't do mexico patients.

I agree with Jack....I don't really crave anything anymore...which isn;t to say that I don't have a handful of chips or a piece of chocolate once in a while, but food has become more of a neccessity rather than a desire. Maybe it is because I can't eat most of what I really used to enjoy (pasta, red meat, fried rice) but I am ok with that.

I know how you feel I'llsucceed.....I still have size 12's and 14's in my closet and I think the same thing...hardly wait till they are loose...but at the same time I remember feeling fat when I was in them before. Will I feel that way again or will I be able to accept the fact that I am healthy and that is all that matters? It is such a strange throught process...my husband asks why I can't just be happy and be done with it...he doesn't understand that this isn't just a physical experience but a mental one too.

Do they have a website? I love to look at clothes....just hate to buy and try them on.

Lol...yeah your right I guess....getting kicked out was pretty cool. Although I have to admit that some of their stuff is much prettier than what I am seeing in the rest of the stores, and I wish they made smaller sizes....or had a thinner (less fat) version of their store. Congratulations to you as well...and keep up tthe awesome work!

How many of you have accepted your new size? I am really having issues with this. WHen I first saw pictures of myself taken the day before surgery I couldn't beleive my eyes because I never thought I was THAT HEAVY. Now that I have had my surgery and am down to a size 14/16 I have issues accepting that. When I go shopping I still to go the plus sized department first (I actually had a salesgirl at Lane Bryant tell me that they were a plus size store and she didn't think I would find anything that would fit me), and when I go to misses I can't even pick anything out because I think it will never fit. Or I always pick up the largest size first. My husband tells me I am obsessed because I am always asking him to compare me to other women in public...like is my butt bigger or smaller than hers, or am I thinner or fatter than her. I always wonder if I am going to fit in a chair or through a small opening etc. Does this ever go away? Will I ever get used to myself? I know I am only six months out but I know I am driving my husband (and myself) crazy. I don't want to become obsessed with my weight but.... Anyway.......thanks for your replies.

Two things I need to vent about...and I am wondering if anyone else maybe feels the same way... 1. Why is it that people feel it is ok to ask you what you weighed prior to surgery and/or how much weight you have lost? Why do they feel they need to know specific numbers? It is obvious that the amount I have lost is significant....I just don't get it. 2. I have a very close friend who had the lapband about a year before I did. When I told her I was having it done she was very supportive. When she was losing her weight I always commented on how great she looked and congratulated her on her progress. Well now that I have had my surgery she never says anything to me at all. I guess it's not that big of a deal but it hurts my feelings a bit. Ok....I lied...theres more than 2.... 3. It drives me nuts when I go out to eat with family and friends and they start taking food off my plate because "You can't eat that much...." At least wait until I finish eating....chances are I am going to offer it to you anyway! Ok...I am done!

*Sigh* At least I'm not the only one who has experienced this. Unfortunatley I am so paranoid about my band, that when anything like this happens I automatically think it is my band. In October I had a kidney stone (1st one...woo hoo) and at first I panicked because I thought I was having some sort of band-related issue. (Only after my husband convinced me to go to the ER did I find out it was a kidney stone.) I guess that is the nature of things after we have this surgery. It is so strange to have this thing inside your body that you can't see or feel. It freaks me out sometimes when I think about it! : )

I don't think it was reflux, because I had that before my surgery (it is gone now). I just don't want it to happen again!

It took me while to get "regular", and even now, I am not "regular" compared to what I was pre-surgery. I eat Frosted Mini Wheats for breakfast at least 3 days a week and this helps a lot...plus itieasy to eat on the go because I just put it in a baggie and chew, chew, chew.

Just my two cents worth....I had my surgery with Dr. Ortiz and I saw that every instrument they used on me was brand new out of the package. And....there was no open window anywhere in the surgical center...there was a window in the OR...but nothing that was open.

Just wondering if anyone else has experienced this before....twice now I have had a sudden onset of crushing, choking pain that comes from my chest (where the band of my bra would be) and goes up towards my throat. I have felt like I needed to throw up really badly, but nothing comes up. Each time this happened, the pain lasted for about 4 hours and then suddenly disappeared. The next day my chest and esophagus were a little sore, but I had no problems. The two times that this has happened were on days where I ate and drank at the same time (bad, I know) and ate large (for a banded person) quantities of food over a period over several hours (we were out with friends at a bar and we kept ordering drinks and appetizers). I have never thrown up, or PB'd so I don;t know what this was. Should I talk to my doctor? DO I have to worry that my band slipped or something? Thanks! Apryl

Hi Everybody! I am going for my second fill the end of this month, and while I wish I could be going back to see Dr. Martinez, and have it done under flouro...I just don't have the time to fly across the country right now. I am using a Dr. in Frederick, MD who seems to come pretty highly recommended...but I am still nervous because she doesn't use flouro. I am still not even sure if I need a fill. Some days I am always hungry and could eat every hour, while other days I am not huingry at all. But...my weight loss seems to have really slowed and instead of losing 2-3 pounds a week...I am only losing like 1-2 every other week. Plus I have been able to eat bread (half a grilled cheese the other day) and other stuff that I think would have given me a problem a couple month's ago. Sounds like I need a fill right? Anyway...I was wondering how agressive I can expect her to be with my second fill...could I end up with only .1 or .2 of a cc? I only have 1.2 to begin with...will .2 more make much of a difference? Since she doesn't do it with the flouro...will she be able to tell if there are any problems like a slippage or anything? Any advice from those of you who have had it done both ways would be really appreciated! Thank you so much!

I was going through the same thing about a month ago and while I haven't really changed my diet (which is my New Years resolution) or started taking any supplements, I did talk to my stylist and this is what we did... ~ I changed the side that I part my hair on (which is where I was getting a bald spot) ~ I cut three inches off my hair (brought it to my shoulders) and layered it....this takes some weight off and helps ease hair loss supposedly ~ I wash every other day, and condition every day....this helps keep my hair looking healthier ~ Avoid pulling your hair back and don;t sleep with it up in a band So far it seems like the hair loss has slowed down. I really think that since I am 4-5 months post op I was experiencing the loss because of the anesthesia (someone mentioned this in another post). I wouldn't worry too much....my friend went through this when she had her surgery and she is now almost 2 years post op and has a full head of hair! Good luck!