shampoo

Hello Chicago! The holiday season is upon us and it could be difficult for us bandsters. We can be a support to each other. Let's have a bandsters get-together. Let's have Soup or a light lunch/dinner - and gain new friends along the way. We been through ups and downs - it would be wonderful to share to other bandsters your experiences and help each other. Email me at shampoosh@gmail.com or reply to this thread. Let's put together a small get-together! Veteran and Newbies welcome! Lynn

Chicago - Holiday season is here and it can be difficult for us bandsters. It would be wonderful to have a get together with other Chicago bandsters for some soup or light lunch/dinner. Anyone interested? Email me at shampoosh@gmail.com or reply to this post - let's be a support to each other and gain new friends along the way! Veteran and newbie bandsters welcome! Lynn

HI! Mount Propect here. Banded on Feb 26, 08 - lost 44 lbs. Email me at shampoosh@gmail.com. You are doing fine. :-)

Hello 31 F banded on Feb 26, 08 by Dr Ortiz in MX. I have lost 43lbs including pre-op. I have pretty much plateaued - even yo-yoed within 10 lbs. I have lost motivation to excercise and eat right. If anyone is out there who would like a buddy - and be all GUNG-HO to a healthier weight and lifestyle together, I would love a mentor/accountability partner. Email me at shampoosh@gmail.com.

I also live in Atlanta. I have been banded by Dr. Ortiz in Tijuana, Mexico on Feb 26, 2008. If you have any questions, please private message me and I will be more than happy to help.

It really depends on the doctor or fill center. The above LBT subscriber mentioned the prices for FillCenterUSA (www.fillcenterusa.com). Some doctors also include a year of free fills after surgery. Blind fills and fills under fluroscopy is are different prices - because of the use of the fluroscopy, they tend charge more. Think positive thoughts, -poo-

Kini Darling... I know how you feel at this point. The worse part of banding is waiting for your approval.... it's worse than any part of the surgery process; but honey, please believe me when I say - "relax and be patient". Let's take this one day at a time. You will be fine. Patience is a virtue. You have done your part and have done it well. It's put all this energy in your studies. Everyone here wishes you luck and I am praying for your approval. Always think positive thoughts and you will attract positive things. Law of attraction.

Hi Kini, Not true at all.. I am a stomach sleeper, too. Many bandsters are. From my experience, I had two nights where I could not sleep on my tummy. After those two nights, I am back to sleeping on my tummy. I guess the number of nights after surgery will depend on how fast you heal - some sleep on their tummy from the first night, others may take a week or two... but "forever" is false. There are many misconceptions about the band and I am glad you are asking people first before you take it as a grain of truth! Keep the questions coming! I am crossing my fingers for your approval! I'll see you in the chat room! -poo-

This is perfect! I'll be in Chicago for the memorial day weekend! I need to loose the weight by then! WTG Ladies!!! We can do this!!!!!! Name............Current............Goal..............Lost........Still to Loose... Jennifer..........188................183................0............. .5............ KarenG............174...............169.................0............. .5............. Tracy..............271...............265.................0............ ..6.......... Suzie.............221................215.................0............ ...6............ Shampoo .......162................155.................0...............7.......

I do Brazilians all the time - I guess it's a personnal preference on how I feel "down there". It may be intimidating at first but it does not hurt as much as you think. As for embarrassment, go to a spa - they do it all the time. I am sure they have seen all kinds shapes and sizes. It's just another day at work for them. However, if you are not comfortable, do a bikini wax first to "try out" how you feel about the pain. Plus your partner will love you, too!

I saw this on another board, the website is: Surgical Weight Loss 5 Day Pouch Test Here is a description from the website: The 5 Day Pouch Test by Kaye Bailey Does my pouch still work? Have I broken my pouch? Have I ruined my tool? These are questions many weight loss surgery post-ops find themselves asking occasionally during their journey. Perhaps it feels like we can eat more food or we know that we are eating more food. Sometimes these questions are asked when there has been a weight regain. This is the 5-day plan that I have developed and used to determine if my pouch is working and return to that tight newbie feeling. And a bonus to this plan, it helps one get back to the basics of the weight loss surgery diet and it triggers weight loss. Also, it is not difficult to follow and if you are in a stage of carb-cycling it will break this pattern. Sounds pretty good, right? The 5 Day Pouch Test should never leave you feeling hungry. You can eat as much of the prescribed menu as you want during the day to satiate hungry and prevent snacking on slider foods and/or white carbs. You must drink a minimum of 64 ounces of Water each day. A reduction of caffeinated beverages is suggested, but do not stop caffeine cold turkey. Weight loss is not the intent of the 5 Day Pouch Test, however, many who have tried this plan report a significant drop in weight. More importantly they Celebrate a renewed sense of control over their pouch and eating habits and easily transition back to a healthy post-surgical weight loss way of eating. Below you will find a brief list of the menu for each day. Please click the "Read more" links for further detail and hints and tips that will enable your success with the 5 Day Pouch Test. Days One & Two: liquid Protein low-carb Protein shakes, broth, clear or cream Soups, sugar-free Gelatin and pudding. Read more. Day 3: Soft Protein canned fish (tuna or salmon) eggs, fresh soft fish (tilapia, sole, orange roughy. Read more. Day 4: Firm Protein ground meat (turkey, beef, chicken, lamb), shellfish, scallops, lobster, fresh salmon or halibut. Read more. Day 5: Solid Protein white meat poultry, beef steak, pork, lamb, wild game Read more. Good luck! I believe you are going to like the results when you give this plan an honest try. Cheers! Kaye Bailey There is a lot more on the site, this is just the intro of the site- there looks like there is lots more!

HI, I was banded bt Dr Ortiz on 2-26-08. He is wonderful - my whole experience was superb! You are in good hands.

HI Queenie, I see you have chosen Dr. Ortiz as your lap band surgeon. He banded me on 2-26-2008 and my whole experience was exemplary! I have so much good things to say about him, Dr. Martinez and the other staff members. You are in good hands. They have done the lapband procedure thousands of times and Dr Ortiz has proctored many doctors in the US and other countries. You will be well taken cared of. I hope this helps you. Shampoo

Hi Bugalu, I am excatly in the same situation as you are. I am 8 days post of and I step on the scale this morning, no change from the time of surgery! I emailed the doc and told me to relax and that it is normal. Weight fluctuates and I am retaining Water - and told me that my main goal right now is to heal. I know it is frustrating that you see other posts and chatters loosing weight and we are not - but everyone is different. The weight loss will follow as long as we follow our doctor's recommendations. I look forward in hearing more about your progress. You'll be cute, sexy and hot in no time! Take care, Shampoo

Hi, how do you know if you band slips?

I know exactly how you feel. I was banded 2/26 and I have gained 6 lbs also since surgery. I have contacted my doctor just to put my mind at ease. She is said it is normal as our body is healing. Weight fluctuates and it could be a number of reason from retaining water, to elevated cortisol levels due to surgery to being swollen. I was told to just relax and let our body heal, which is our primary goal right now.

Just started. banded 2/26 by Dr Ortiz.. gained 6 lbs since surgery..

So exciting!! I am going in to have my surgery with Dr Oritz on Feb 27! Thanks for the suggestion to bring my own chicken bouillon and heating pad!

thanks for the advice!

Thanks Kats - appreciate your welcome to the forum and words of wisdom.. still counting down the days! This whole experience has been nerve-wrecking .... but everyone here is great!

Shampoo ..... Shampoo ....... 02-27-2008

Hi Teachr5thgrade - Yup really excited!!!! I will be thinking about you too while I am getting ready for surgery!!!!

HI BB I am a 5'1'' 30 year old female and residing in Atlanta. My band date will be on Feb 27. I am so excited! Isn't this site great? I have learned a lot just from this site. I hope to be banster buddies!!!

Hello Peeps, I am so glad I found this site. I have used the chat section and it worked wonders for me - though I am anxious for my band procedure, I am also very excited. I have chatted with bansters from all over the country and they were so supportive and have received valuable, wonderul advices from their vast experiences. If you have not been in the chat room, I hope to see you there! I am getting banded on Feb 27, 2008. I have always been "chubby" and "plump" ever since I could remember. I was active in school and played in team sports but I was always overweight. I am an expert yo-yo dieter. Name me a diet, I have probably done it more than once in my lifetime. Don't get me wrong, I lost weight in these diets but they always came back, and what is worse, they came back with friends! Now I am 30, I need to take better control of my life and weight since over the years, I am heading in the wrong direction of the scale. I had a recent family member go to the hospital for weight-related conditions, and I definately do not want to be the next one on the list. Still a bit scared, and a little nervous and counting down the days til my band date. Wish me luck! I love this site.