Queen of Hearts

:wub:Hey Rhapsody:wub:Good to hear from you! I haven't been posting as religiously as I should either and it really is good to hear from you!! Yep, I can do the workout with Mr. Simmons but I dare not chance it in front of ANYONE else..Richard will keep his mouth shut and not laugh at me!!:drool: I checked today and I guess just changing up a little does help..2 pounds off after about almost 2 months of a plateau!!:tt1: I have a doc appt for a fill this week and I fear I won't be down as much as he'd like to see but that's just all part of it I guess! Sounds to me like you really are busy anyway!! Gardening isn't just looking at the flora and fauna, I KNOW!! Before I could hardly bend over to work the garden with all the extra poundage, but it's coming off and I can move so much better now! That helps with the exercise routines too and I also am having a hard time finding a Wii! Don't they know it's not just for kids and they should produce extras for the bandsters that would like to get up and workout?? :biggrin2: I too discussed going to curves with Lil Miss..they have one just down the road from me so that's another idea I am looking into! Doesn't Ezma look GREAT!! A new do and look at her smile!! Such a change in that butterfly huh?? From what I've been able to see on all the other threads the other February Bandsters are some very beautiful women and good looking men!! They inspire me to continue doing what I can!!:tt1: Glad to hear you're doing so well!! We're going to have to get another thread on here for the 6 month pics for the Victorious Valentines!:tt2: Keep in touch and let us know how you're doing once in a while!! Hugs to you!!:party:

Hi MicheleK! I had his partner, Dr. T. Eldridge! I met both of them in a seminar last year and I think they are both great! I was banded in Feb and down 50 pounds! I love having the band!!

That's ok..I only got a white box with a red X in it so I didn't see anything! Just my luck!! LOL

Hey everyone!!:wub:Good to see ALMOST everyone seems to be ok!!?? My 4 month was a loss of 42 pounds..2 fills with a total of 5.6 cc in a AP 12 band. Went in for another fill, doc put in 1cc and I couldn't eat, drink, sleep and was miserable so the following week he took 1/2 cc out and I go back in next week to try the 1/2 cc back in..I am at a humongous plateau right now and am ready for something to give:blush:! Nice to see you all posting! Great idea Gibson!! Sorry your doc is a jerk though!! You ought to charge him for the times he doesn't fill you!

Hey Ezma! Girl you are looking great!! Haven't been on in a while and noticed the title of this..well you're not alone. I just finished commiserating with Lil Miss about our weight GAIN and loss and plateaus!!:cursing:I walk every day but now it's time to start with something a little more aggressive! I like the Wii idea..I've heard it's lots of fun from other folks here..but I have the old Richard Simmons tapes..dancin to the oldies! Believe it or not they are fun! :wink2: But I don't even do this in front of my DH! Don't think I will until I have more weight loss because I can see myself in the reflection and just have to laugh at how corny I am compared to the other guys and gals on the video!!:tt2:

Can't see this??

Carbohydrates!! AWWWKKK!!

Hi headin_to_mxico! :biggrin2: I have the new Allergan AP band and it is a 12. This band is new and as a matter of fact I am one of 500 people nationwide in a research study program for this band. My band was put on in Feb of this year and so far I can tell you that I have had no problems with it. My biggest problem I have is my inability to remember to chew chew chew!!:wink: I too went through a lot of research and from what I have read about this new band it should prove to be very USER friendly. From what I understand and I'm not a specialist, but the band is made a bit wider to help prevent erosion and slippage which seem to be some of the most frequent problems that occur with a band. I get checked every month and have not had any problems so far. :wink2: I definitely would recommend a band but I have no idea how the sleeve works or what is involved in having the sleeve put on. I can tell you that my digestive disease doctor told me under no circumstances would he approve the gastric by pass so we chose the lapband! Good luck on your research and your upcoming surgery. Keep us posted on your progress!

Hey Babedoe4~I am not even half way to my goal but I have already started checking into plastic surgery. The doctor that has taken the time to respond to my email has worked on gastric bypass patients but didn't tell me if he has worked on lapband patients. He suggested that I wait for a consultation until I have met my goal and have maintained my goal weight for at least 3 months. I was doing pretty good but this last episode with my band (taking 1/2cc out) has not helped my weight loss but I go in next week to try another little bit more. If you go to the reconstructive surgery threads you will get a whole lot of info just reading what some of the folks have already gone through! It's amazing how great some look and others that didn't quite fair out as they expected. I knew before I had my band placed that I would need surgery. My skin is not as elastic as it was when I was younger and the rapid speed at which the weight comes off leaves everyone with a little sag here and there:sad:. If there is anything I can help you with just let me know! :wink2:

Hey JenniPenni!:wink2: Yes, yes, yes!! I had that very same problem. I couldn't eat, drink or sleep. My back pained me when I did try to eat and at night my food that wouldn't go through the band was coming back up..so I too had 1/2 cc removed. Lost 6 pounds in 6 days when I had the 1 cc in and gained weight back but not too much..at least I can drink now!! Next week I go back in and see if I can hold either the 1/2 cc or 1/4 cc. Whew that was tough!! Are you doing better now??:wink:

:wub:Life:wub:

Hi Julie..thanks for getting back with me so soon! So what they did was kinda like pull your skin up by cutting around the bottom of your bottom and life the excess?? Well my bottom is definitely going to have to be adjusted and maybe they can kill 2 birds with one stone. :biggrin: I'll have to ask a PSurgeon and see! Thanks so much for the info!! I have heard about the up and down cuts and I don't think that would be a very pleasant site..yours sounds better but I'm really saddened to hear you aren't happy with it. Does he have a money back guarantee?? :frown: Just kidding..but I know that some Psurgeons have an insurance policy you can purchase for that very reason. Thanks again!!

Hey Juliegeraci! I have only lost 44 pounds but unfortunately my skin is not elastic at all and my question is exactly how did they lift your thighs?? I know of another lady and myself that our upper inner thighs look scary!:frown: I'm right now starting to do a bunch of research on plastic surgery because even though I have just started my journey I can already tell we are going to have a problem! :biggrin: So if you don't mind sharing any info I would love to hear from you! And kudos on the weight loss! That's absolutely terrific!!

Hi Egomec! I don't really know why you do that but I know if I chew too little..it's not going to go down as well, or if I eat too fast same thing. If you can eat the same thing one day and it not go down the next you might pay special attention to how you're eating it..chewing and speed have killed me a couple of times, but I'm learning! I hate the results from not chewing enough and eating too fast!!:party: Good luck!!

This is great! My digestive disease doctor also was a driving force behind my lapband surgery also. It is so much positive results that all the medical field is taking note..now if we could get all the insurance companies to do the same look how many more people would be able to improve their health and lifestyle!! I'm glad he came to see you..now..who was withness to whom??

Hi Sooner! I read your first post and I had borderline diabetes. I don't now, my band has been taking care of so many of my health issue that I am just boggled at how fast and well these changes are happening in my life. 1 month after surgery..blood pressure pill prescription cut in half..2nd month of surgery..what was a liver headed for replacement started regenerating and all panels on the blood work look so well that my liver doc is weaning me off my cholesterol meds! I just went to my family doc and she cut my blood pressure meds down again to only 2 instead of 3! :biggrin2: There was a report that came out about 3 months ago..actually the month before or the month I had my band put in so that would be late January or early February where a study was done on diabetic patients in Australia and it was stated that it was either 73 or 93% of the diabetic patients that received the band were in complete recovery and were no longer having to take medication for their diabetes they had previously. I even discussed this with my lap band doctor and he was surprised that I was up and current on the studies they were having. You can go to lapband sites and see what studies they are conducting and also which ones are completed. I myself am a research participant in the new AP band. Hopefully my progress will aid future bandsters with aquiring a band and showing the insurance companies just how much these bands can actually save their company in simply the medications alone that a lot of us have to take! So I think your chances of having a positive outlook on your current situation is relatively good! Keep us posted on how everything goes and I wish the best of luck for you because I know how devastating diabetes is..it runs in my family!!

Hey that's great Main Marion..and actually my lucky number is 7 so I bet everything goes smooth! I wish the best of luck for you and I know you'll be so glad to finally have this done!! Keep us posted!

Hi Gramalisa! I am so glad to hear your husband is all for it now. He and you both will not be sorry! My husband has finally admitted that I have made the right choice. He was just going through one of his insecure stages I guess?? :confused2: Granted it is a life style change but you can read all the posts on this site and know that we all will cheat once in a while but even at that for the most part everyone follows their diets pretty well and are doing fantastic! I envy the younger women that have this available to them now and am glad I was able and healthy enough to get this band myself!:biggrin2: I have a daughter who is 32 and has not had any babies yet and a lot of this is due to her weight according to her GYN doc. She has an HMO and right now doesn't cover it but we are trying to get them to justify why not since she also has co-morbidity causes and heart disease runs in my family.:sad: If you daughter decides to do this she will be so happy that she did! Especially since she's so young because she will always be fit for her children and able to do so much without the excess weight! For the past month I haven't lost any weight and this happens with the band. I will be going to the doc next week and he will make an adjustment and knowing that, I am at ease because these adjustments tighten the band and keep you from feeling so hungry that there's not much left BUT to lose the weight! Please keep us posted on your progress and the best of luck to you and your daughter! :biggrin2:

Hi Angela1der! I have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, borderline diabetes, sleep apnea, metabolic syndrome, and a liver that was diagnosed as non alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver, which means it's storing fatty deposits and was so huge that my liver doctor said the next step is getting on a donor list. :thumbup: When my endocrinologist told me I MAY have 10 years left to live, my choice was made! :biggrin2: I chose the lap band mostly because my liver doctor wouldn't help me get the surgery for the gastric by pass or the RNY due to so many of his patients having complications..not saying everyone does because I have a friend that had gastric by pass and she's doing great, but it was his decision to help me and he chose the lap band over all the other diet surgeries and I would say it is because it is the least invasive and totally reversible. I had a 10 day pre op diet that only had 3 days of liquids before surgery and an 8 week post op diet that to me really just gets you used to measuring your food and making sure you don't get into too much that may at first be hard to digest or even keep down..I still have to really be careful when I get an adjustment.:thumbup: If you have seen a nutritionist that's great..if not I would highly recommend one so you will see how much a change this MAY make. Some don't have too hard a time because they had already started eating healthier before surgery.:Dancing_wub: Now I'm down 40 pounds less and my liver after only 2 months with the band has started regenerating and my blood pressure meds have been cut in half and my cholesterol meds have been weaned off as well. I just went to the family doctor to check the liver panels and cholesterol readings, so I'll find out in about a week how they are. The hardest thing I have had was getting used to the portion sizes. I'm limited to 1/2 cup per meal with Protein shakes in between the meals. I am very satisfied with that and my doc said I was going twice as fast as I needed to so he's happy. :biggrin2: I am the first patient my family doctor has that has a Lap Band and she asked me how everything was going..(she's was so curious that she had to find my port, check my scars, ask me tons of questions)..and I told her I was doing great and feeling the best I had in years. I also told her that if she has any patients that were wondering about the Lap Band that she was welcome to tell them my story. It has been an amazing journey for my health and well being. Nothing has ever made such a positive difference in my whole being as having this band put in! I would recommend it to anyone that has tried dieting the conventional way and exercising to get it if their doctor considers them a candidate. I'm a bit older than you and I just wish I could have had this band even 15 years ago!! I am sold on it and with anything else in life..you have to give to get..so yes, you won't eat like you used to but the end results will be a healthy long life. :thumbup: The questions I had for my doc..this was after getting on this forum..was exactly what band did he use and what size it was. Did he put in a fill during (or in your case would he) surgery?? How much and how often does he plan on adjusting..every 4,6 or 8 weeks?? I'm a research participant so I have to go in every 4 weeks. Really my seminar covered almost every question I thought of and then this site is full of peoples experiences and questions they themselves have asked. I joined AFTER my surgery, so you are a step ahead of where I was! I wish you well on your surgery and my number one opinion on what you should ask your doctor is only that he be available to answer any more questions you will have later..I sure did!:thumbup: Keep us posted on your progress and I think it's a great idea that you are checking out all avenues! :thumbup:

:biggrin:Hi Justforme! First congratulations! You will be amazed at how this one decision will change your life in the most positive way! I too have been big boned my whole life and probably would still be going down that road if my health didn't send me a warning..so now I'm banded and I love it! Granted I can't eat like I used to or get what I use to but it's worth every loss for every gain in my health!! If you follow your nutritionist and doctors guidelines you cannot fail. If you feel like you are eating too much then you can always get an adjustment to tighten you up a bit. The only thing that I experienced was when I got an adjustment it took a bit for me to get accustomed to the restriction and if I didn't chew well and eat slow my food would try to come back up and you don't want that!! Right now all I have to do is walk at least 30 minutes a day. I'm a bit older and my body a bit wore out but my doc said there wasn't a need to go overboard until my weight was a bit less and as it got less I could initiate more strenuous exercises. I am not computer literate either, but there are so many on this forum that know so much..I just usually send a post and maybe a private message and the girls and guys are always ready to assist! I think if you see the ticker web address, you can go there and it's not too hard to figure out what you have to do..see I'm not much help either..but there are a few ladies that I sent a private message to that helped me and I'm sure they would help you. Their names on this site are LilMissBand-Aid and EZMA. You can go to your members area and send them a PM and those are 2 that have a head full of computer stuff! This is one of the best sites I have been a part of and I was just banded 2/8/08. There is so much that all of these people have been through and so very easy to become internet buddies with! I wish you the best on your surgery and hope you keep us posted on how well your journey goes! Again welcome!!:biggrin2:

Hi Wicked! Your post intrigued me. I don't have any small children at home anymore but I do understand a little bit of the problems you are faced with. I had waited for 2 years before I got my band. My husband was totally against it and for the simple reason was because, like Gramalisa, he was afraid when I got back down to my fighting weight I would be looking for a new man! That is ridiculous however, I think a mans way of thinking is very different from ours! :thumbup: My health issues made me stand up and tell him..look, I'm not doing this for looks, ego, or any other reason than my health! I have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, borderline diabetes, sleep apnea, metabolic syndrome, and a liver that was diagnosed as non alcholic cirrhosis of the liver, which means it's storing fatty deposits and was so huge that my liver doctor said the next step is getting on a donor list. :thumbup: Even with all these issues he was apprehensive, however, when my endocrinologist told me I MAY have 10 years left to live, my choice was made! I asked my husband point blank..is your insecurity worth killing me? Hard but it's the way I was seeing it. He agreed with me then! :biggrin2: Now I'm down 40 pounds less and my liver after only 2 months with the band has started regenerating and my blood pressure meds have been cut in half and my cholesterol meds have been weaned off as well. I just went to the family doctor to check the liver panels and cholesterol readings, so I'll find out in about a week how they are. There are times when you have to think about yourself. You have already stated that your health is on the line..now you have to weigh the odds. Is it worth losing a better and longer life for a couple of days of inconvience to your family or improving and lengthening your life for yourself AND your family for many MORE years?? :thumbup: I had my surgery on Friday and could have gone back to work on Monday but took an extra day off just to pamper myself with a manicure and pedicure because I knew I was starting a whole new way of life and I was going to LIVE!! :Dancing_wub: Yes, you won't eat as much, but you don't have to worry about your family. You will be able to make more discernable decisions on what you will cook for them but my husband doesn't follow my diet. He cooks and I know what I'm allowed to eat so I do that. The hardest thing I have had was getting used to the portion sizes. I'm limited to 1/2 cup per meal with Protein shakes in between the meals. I am very satisfied with that and my doc said I was going twice as fast as I needed to so he's happy. I am the first patient my family doctor has that has a lapband and she asked me how everything was going..(she's was so curious that she had to find my port, check my scars, ask me tons of questions)..and I told her I was doing great and feeling the best I had in years. I also told her that if she has any patients that were wondering about the lapband that she was welcome to tell them my story. It has been an amazing journey for my health and well being. Nothing has ever made such a positive difference in my whole being as having this band put in! I would recommend it to anyone that has tried dieting the conventional way and exercising to get it if their doctor considers them a candidate. I'm a bit older than you and I just wish I could have had this band even 15 years ago!! I am sold on it and with anything else in life..you have to give to get..so yes, you won't eat like you used to but the end results will be a healthy long life and all those physical impairments and shortcomings will probably disappear as your weight goes down! It is a miracle in my life! I apologize for this being so lengthy, but I wanted you to know exactly what I had to face and how far my health had to decline before I was able to get my husband to not be so indifferent to what my doctors were recommending. Please keep us posted and I wish for you the very best life has to give you!

Hi! Have you seen a nutritionist? What kind of diet are they giving you for your pre-op and post-op? I have a 10 day preop and 8 week post op diet but they did not take any of my medication away from me except for the 24 or 48 hours before my surgery. If it's the pill size that they don't want you to suffer from you can buy a pill cutter and cut them in half and it makes it easier to swallow. If it's because they may cause your blood to thin then definitely don't take them until your doc says you can continue. I would ask him why they are wanting you to be off of them. I was taking a slew of meds since I had so many health issues and I would think ADVIL wouldn't be so bad?? But if your case I would consult the doc to be sure he wants you to discontinue this! After surgery my doc gave me some pain meds and they were the bomb! Didn't have to worry about ANY pain! Maybe your doc has something like that he plans on giving you and the advil may hamper it's effectiveness, but definitely ask him..

Hey Janieb! I'm in the Midwest and so far we haven't got too much bad weather but it looks like it could make a tornado pretty quick! Now about your fills. Does your doctor not put a local anesthetic on you before he starts poking around for the port?? I noticed some of the doctors don't but mine does. I think we all have to do the crunches for the port to be easily accessible?? I know I have to. The first fill he jumped around about 4 times and the second fill he got right in the middle, so much so that the port created a vacuum and it DIDN'T want to let go of the needle..when he pulled it the port, skin and all came up and the needle didn't budge! HA! It was hilarious..my doc said he hit it right on target though! :biggrin2: Then he pushed on the port and pulled on the needle and it had a big pop when it finally came loose! :wub: I am schedule for another fill next week but I turned down my third fill and I've been losing about 2 lbs a week which is really more than I need to, but not this month. He said he likes to see a pound a week come off and he has to see me once a month for this study I'm in so I have a greater advantage of being able to pick and choose fills, whereas some of the ladies on this forum almost have to beg to get their fills! Since my last fill I've adjusted to eating less so now I think I'm ready for a SLIGHT adjustment! See if your doc will give you a local so he can poke around and you won't feel i Ok..I'm not a computer guru either. I have asked some of the folks on this site and they are more than happy to help me so you will probably get lots of help and believe me it makes a big difference but I just never had to worry about pasting and posting so I can't help you but like I said a whole bunch of ladies and guys do!! Sorry~:thumbup: Let us know how everything works out! Every person is going to lose weight differently. There are too many variables to put in to play to feel like you're not up there with the rest of the people. Just hang in there!:confused:

Oh Melody! I'm so sorry to hear that! Are you going to have to go see a nutritionist before they do your surgery? That takes about 6 months and maybe you could knock that out while waiting for your insurance to accept you??:smile: I waited 2 years so I know what you're going through, but don't give up! More and more insurance companies are accepting this procedure everyday and with all the study groups going on to prove the usefulness of this surgery it will make that happen so don't give up!! I am a research participant on the new AP lap band and with the results from my study, they will hopefully help the future participants and wake up the insurance companies to how well this surgery does work!:biggrin2: Stay focused and don't let this bring you down. There is a light at the end of this tunnel!!

RSG..it's just the truth sweetie..you do have gorgeous locks and a precious smile!