ConnieD27

Hello fellow Mainers! Well, we finally moved. We are no longer living in South Portland...we closed on our house in ALBION on 8/1 and moved 8/2! I tried e-mailing the intake person @ Maine General about becoming a patient- but it was returned to me. Does anyone have the name of the person to ask for when I call their Waterville office? Thanks!

I had to buy a pair of jean shorts for the holiday weekend, so I went to Target and all they had were size 16, 22, 24 ad 26. Since I was pretty sure I am an 18 now I got VERY discouraged. BUT, I decided to try the 16 on anyways...ad GUESS WHAT?!? THEY FIT!!! I got VERY excited and jumped up and down in the fitting room. My 2 yr old didn't understand what was going on, but was happy for me and my 6 yr old will probably never want to go shopping with me again...BUT THEY FIT!!!!! :biggrin:

Ok ladies. I am moving from the Portland area to I guess what you would call the "Greater Waterville" area for work. (We are putting a bid on a house in Albion, TODAY!) I'm hoping to transfer my care and would like some honest input about the dr's up there. I think Maine General is the hospital...but there are about TEN pages of posts in that thread! I was hoping to get information (good and bad experiences) on the dr's available. Thank you!

Last Friday I chaperoned my daughter's summer camp trip to the Boston Children's Museum. I walked around the museum for FIVE hours and wasn't sore the next day!!!!! Granted, I was tired that night- but who wouldn't be?!? That was HUGE for me. Also, I received some hand-me-down dresses from a relative. They are size 14/16W and I thought it was a cruel joke that she thought they would fit me. Well, guess what?!? One of them fits beautifully and the other is only a little tight!!!! That is AMAZING to me. I'm getting there I tell you! lol And, finally, I ran into an old friend that I hadn't seen in 2-3 years. She didn't recognize me! I have to finally say "hi" using her name for her to really look at me and realize that she DID know me. That was really nice. :thumbup:

Thanks guys! Your support is SO appreciated. For the question about the ticker- click on anyone's and then make one. Then copy and paste the code into your signature (in your profile). :thumbup:

Thank you! I'm feeling awesome and SO proud. I appreciate you guys supporting me. :biggrin2:

I just updated my weight loss ticker (weighed in yesterday) and am ELATED that I am now half way to my goal!! YIPPEE!!!

I just updated my weight loss ticker today (weighed in yesterday) and I was able to see that I am HALF way to my goal!!! My goal is pretty hefty (no puns intended) and I am already half way there!!!! I'm so proud of myself right now that I had to share.

Hi Lisamarie- I have had issues w/vomitting too. I've found that even if I eat slowly and chew REALLY well, *I* still need to be very careful. Some foods I just CAN NOT handle. eggs, bread (even toasted well), red meat etc. I am currently @ 6cc's in a 14cc band. My last fill was just a couple of weeks ago. I don't know if it's possible, but if it is- feel free to send me a message "offline". It looks like we face a lot of the same issues. Be well, Connie

Hi Gina!! Welcome to the board! I have found this group to be really supportive, and I'm sure you will too. Jump in and have fun!! Connie

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Good morning everyone! I had my second fill last week, and my dr had a hard time accessing my port. I had to bend my knees up, hands under my bottom, lift my neck etc. It took two sticks and a little swirling of the needle (needless to say, it was NOT an enjoyable experience). Anyways, after he was able to put the 1cc in, he started talking about how I will most likely need a new ("designer") port in a few months. This REALLY freaked me out. Maybe I should be saying "shame on me" for not doing ALL the research and knowing about this...but I didn't know about this! I didn't know it was even a possibility!! Have any of you had similar conversations w/your physicians? Or, do you know anyone that has actually had this done? Thanks in advance!

Thank you! My weight loss has stalled out. I've been at the same amt for a couple of weeks now. I'm going back to Dallas next week for a fill...I'm SO overdue. I'm actually freaking out a little because I'm a bridesmaid in my cousins wedding in August, and I ordered my dress (in February) based on the 8-10 lb wt loss/month that my dr predicted for me. EEK!!!! Luckily, I think I was conservative enough that I won't look like a stuffed sausage...but I think it will be a tight fit.

Thanks Kerri! I have lost 52 lbs since starting the pre-diet on 11/30/07. I lost 9 lbs while on the pre-diet. So, I guess that means I've lost 43 lbs since surgery (12/12/07). Connie :biggrin2:

So, here's my answer- I don't exercize nearly as much as I should. I'm trying to step it up though!

I'm jealous!! I can't even do toast. I would forgo buying that stuff too...but with 2 little kids, it's a necessity! LOL PS- on my "room for a new member?" post I added progress pictures...if any of you would like to take a looksie. :rolleyes2:

Thanks Tracy!! PS- I LOVE your picture!!

Here are some for me. The first 2 are "before" pictures. The first one (I'm on the right w/short hair in the navy gown) is Sept '07, the second one is Oct '07. First "after" picture is 2 months post op (Feb '08) and the second is 4 months post op (April '08). Feel free to share yours too!! pre-surgery2.bmp

Thank you for the reassurance, and I will check that other link! I try really hard not to drink w/meals. Occasionally I have to do a little sip here and there- but I used to drink 2-3 glasses of Water WITH my meals...so this is a big change for me. This is probably one of the hardest things about having the band (for me). I REALLY miss bread. I haven't been able to "handle" it yet. Also, what the heck is it about scrambled eggs?!? Do those make you folks sick as well?? Before I had my first fill I had no problems w/scrambled eggs. Since then though, I just can't handle even 1/2 scrambled egg. Thanks again.

So, in a normal day- what type of food do you have for meals/snacks/etc?? I am thinking that I'm not really picking all the "right" things, because I don't seem to be loosing as much in comparison to some of you folks. Here are some of my examples: bfast- oatmeal or Cereal (w/ 2% milk) morning snack- Myoplex Light Bar/cheese stick/banana/yogurt Lunch- almost ALWAYS have a big salad (usually w/a hard boiled egg and a little shredded cheese). If I don't have a salad I have leftovers from home (either chick w/veggies or curry or something) afternoon snack- veggies with hummus/Myoplex Light Bar/cheese stick etc Dinner- fish or chicken, veggies (either small salad or steamed veggies) and rice/noodle type side (very small amount) evening snack (THIS is what gets me)- honestly, it varies and I don't make "good" choices. This is where I need some real help. I'm kind of embaressed to admit the things I choose here. Things like popcorn...or, last night I had 2 oreo's...things that I feel guilty over- but crave SO much! Thank you!

You guys are SO nice. Thank you for the welcome. I've attached some pictures of my progress. The first is Sept '07 (I think I gained about 10 lbs before actually having my surgery- so that wasn't even my highest. I am the one w/short hair in the navy dress, but daughter is the little girl). The second is Oct '07. Then I have a 2 month post op (taken in Feb '08) and a 4 month post op(taken in April '08). I don't really see a difference between Feb and April. pre-surgery2.bmp

Thanks Sarah! I didn't order the additional wrist band things. I figured I need to get used to actually moving my body first! LOL I'm hoping that I love it too. I'm in a wedding in August and I don't want FLABBY arms!! ick

YAY for the board getting active!!!!!! Hi, I'm Connie. I live in South Portland...although we are hoping (please cross your fingers) to sell our condo this summer and build a house further north. I had my band placed 12-12-07 by Dr. Benavides in Dallas, Texas. I am probably going to be looking to transition my care to someone up here pretty soon. Are any of your dr's taking on patients that were banded elsewhere??

What an AWESOME idea, Kerri! I should try the reward system. HEck, it works for my 6 yr old...so why not me too?? I just ordered a couple of workout video's that look like a lot of fun. They should show up in the next week or so. One is Turbo Jam and the other is a Denise Austin Cardio something or other. I'll let you guys know how they are!

Thank you for the warm welcome, Gail! Don't you love Dr. B & Felts' office?!? They are so nice... Question for you- how are you doing w/excersize? I find that I don't get nearly enough in... Thanks!