Sugarbear

I am nearly 3 yrs. out. I am fine. Haven't lost all the weight yet but that is my doings. We all have tool and gadgets we buy and don't use. Well....I am guilty of that sometimes with my band. It is a weightloss tool that I bought and sometimes don't use. It doesn't tell me what to eat, plus it doesn't act like a barrier when I stuff something in my mouth that shouldn't be going. Only I can do that. I wouldn't change one thing about getting my band. I would do it again tomorrow.

Well I just tried out the chat. It was fine. First time that has happen for me.

Autumn, first..congratulations! Next, be sure you have all the things you need for post surgery at your fingertips at home. I don't know what your doctor requires in the line of post surgery items, like plenty of broths, pain meds if you should need them, (liquid). Set heavy things at counter level where you do not have to reach for, nor pick them up. It is good to pre-prepare and possibly freeze items that can be put in the freezer for the rest of your family. Splurge on some quick fix frozen things for them if you don't have time to cook and freeze. Pay bills, clean house, run errands, ect. so in case you don't want to get out much for several days, you don't have to. No pushing, pulling, or lifting. You don't want to upset your port or the band before it can heal and seat in place. Sounds complicated but it's really not. I didn't have one bit of trouble. I did do a LOT of walking and moving around to help relieve any gas build up as soon as I got home, which was within a couple of hours after surgery. Just follow instructions and you will do fine. Good Luck and please let us know how you do. My email is sharonhenley00@yahoo.com if you have any questions.

I never had much luck on the chat either. Find a thread you really like and you will get lots of support from there. Our group was banded in Texarkana, TX. So we have a Texarkana bandsters thread. I started it. Long time ago. We love it because we are all under the same doc, rules, ect. Sometimes we get a little slack about posting (like me). But for the most part we try to keep it active, especially for the newbies like you. Hope you are feeling well. Where did you have your surgery? There our LOTS of threads, find one you like, you will enjoy it. I will help any way I can.

Are the Allergan and the Inane band the same? I have the inane band (old style). New one came out about 2 or 3 months after my surgery. Would have waited if I had known. It is my understanding it is wider and has the saline pouch all the way around the band. Didn't see how to click and see the pictures you are trying to show.

Hello all! Got back home about 9;30 last night from the conference. WOW!!! Cher did a fabulous job of putting this together! I enjoyed every speaker. I am 1 1/2 years out from surgery. I still enjoyed the wealth of information I recieved. The facts about healthy eating, foods and nutrition were great. Most of all I appreciate Cher and all her hard work, and devotion to a community in need of support and education. It was truly an emotional embrace for all who attended. NOT counting the effort she put forth when everything was over and she was ehausted..........then took me to catch my train in downtown Dallas!! THANK YOU COACH CHER!!!!!!!!!

I am comming by Amtrak. I'll get into downtown around 12 noon, Take a commuter train to the airport and then the hotel shuttle will pick me up from there. Looking forward to meeting everyone. See you tomorrow evening.

Minpinmom, ME TOO! I also have a Minpin. Hope I get to meet you.

I am definately going too. Wonder if we are supposed to get a confirmation on our sign up for the conference? Guess I could email Coachcher. I am looking forward to this as well.

Xraigal, Welcome to Bandland. Becareful about your activities for now. Your port needs time to scar in place. (Kinda grow to the spot it was put on).For your band, much less chance of slippage if you let it get seated in place. The tissue they stitch it too is fragile. You have done so well, don't want to rock the boat now. Take care.

Will the clothing be exchange only or will it be like a garage sale where they might be purchased? I don't think I am driving so no extra baggage.

The Wyndham at the airport.

Drink some warm broth, sugarfree hot chocolate, or hot tea. That will help relax your band and stay with the liquids.

OOOPS, meant that for XRAIGAL, sorry.

Hi Lopez. I am banded and if you follow drs. orders and the band rules you will be just fine. Don't push, pull, or lift. But do walk and move around a lot. The air they put in your abdomen has to brake down and dissapate. Movement does that. So walk, walk, walk. When the air (gas) gets up in your shoulders, chest, neck, ect. it is very uncomforatable. So the more you move the quicker the big bubble of air breaks down to smaller bubbles ect. Your anethesiologist will probably tell you about all that. Good luck and welcome to bandland. Follow the rules, you will do fine.

I'm registered with the hotel. sent my form to Cher today and Thursday I am going to make reservations for transportation. I am checking out Amtrack, if that doesn't work out I'll check out airfare. If that doesn't work out I'll just drive. See ya'll there!

Coachcher. I am sorry to be such a bother but the page still won't open. I just sent an email and it returned back to me. Your site just doesn't like my computer.LOL I think I am bringing a guest. Will the guest be able to attend the conference with me or will they be limited. She is a prospective bander. my email address is sharonhenley00@yahoo.com. Please email me the form. I just can't seem to get it any other way. Unless there is a phone# to call to register? Thanks sharonhenley00@yahoo.com

Finally got to the "pink page" but wouldn't let me open to the registration form so I could print it. FRUSTRATING!!! Is there a phone # I can call to register? I have already made reservations for the Wyndam. When is the deadline to register for the conference itself?

I have my reservation at the hotel made but haven't been able to register for the conference itself. I clicked on Lap Band Conference but it says can't get that page. When is the deadline for the conderence registration?

I have clicked on the conference link (I think) but I don't see a registration form, ect. Just trying to find out more about it. $100 a night, $150 for the conference, I guess a couple of meals included? I guess the forn would be more detailed but can't find it. Looks like about a $500 weekend :biggrin:. Gas, food, lodging. conference fee. I would appreciate any other details. Sounds interesting but have to register by Fri. Thanks Sugarbear

Hello all. Haven't been on here in quite a while. Looks like everyone is doing well. To answer the poll. So far I haven't put on any substancial weight. One or two pounds, but I can do that from morning to night. On the other hand, I am a member of the slow losers club, as you can tell. Slow but sure is a better road to be on than the one I was on before being banded. I have a couple of friends that lost 100lbs or more the first year but I just couldn't do it. I have to work on my relationship that I have with food all the time. It is getting a little better, but still have issues. That is why I am such a slow loser. Just have to keep plugging along. Everyone take care!

Michelle, hope this finds you doing better. Take those first steps to get better. Go see your doctor, get back on your meds, then give yourself some time and see what results you come up with. You are right in every way about feeling bad when you don't succeed. All of us are different. What works for one may not work as well for another. You have to give yourself another chance to possibly a different approach. So erase that slate and start over. We all mess up from time to time. Start with your meds if they help your state of mind. I am sure your doctor's office will work with you on payments, just ask. You can do this....you just have to get this ball rolling. Keep us informed. Good luck. & MAKE THAT CALL!!!!!!!

Hi Michele. You have already made a huge step in realizing your problem. That is the first step. I too am a slow loser. Also didn't realize how serious my relationship with food was. I am over a year out and I am having to really work on it. Don't be so hard on yourself. Just set a mini goal for yourself, conquer it and move to the next one. If you have a bad week, pull yourself up and start over. We can't go back, but we CAN go forward. You are not a failure, you just slipped back a little. Talk with your support staff at your doctors office. Surely they have someone to talk to. Go to support group meeting and sit on the front row. Everyone here has had bad times. It is harder for some of us than others. If you have depression problems get some help, I think you know deep down it will ease the burden of your weight loss journey. Get your band straigh and I think things will be easier. So Monday a.m. call and get an appt. to ease that thing where you can use it as the tool it was meant to be. Let me know how things go next week. We are all rootin for you.

It was the third week before we could go to even a mushie. Try applesauce, puddings, thin cream potatoes, thin your cream soups, yogurts. Give yourself a little more healing time. Small amounts. Cottage, like yogurt id great for your protein intake. But cottage cheese is still a little heavy while you are healing. Just back off a little for 4-6 days and I think you will see a big difference. If not, call your doctor for saftey. Overall meal portion should be really small. Hang in there. Another month all this will be much much better. Good luck.

Michelle, sounds like you are definitely too tight. The weight gain may make you even tighter. Have you not checked with your doctor in two years? I have heard of several instances like yours. Tight is good. Too tight is NOT. You can't eat properly when you are too tight, as you know. Small portions, SMALL bites with an annoying amount of chewing, should allow you to eat fairly well. I didn't lose weight for about 3 months...got two unfils, just a smidgeon at a time, and immediately dropped 5 pounds. Like you, I got hungary but ate band friendly foods, or did the Pbing. Don't risk a possible erosion from being too tight. See your doctor as soon as possible. Good Luck