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Awesome! Good job, you've done fantastic. I hope I can do nearly as well! Keep it up

Yeaaaaah... watching (or trying to) liposuction makes me sick too. ugg...yuck! Ok, ok... I won't make you watch the lapband surgery! But it is cool!

It's actually surprisingly not gross... I was a little leary at first though. The worst thing, I though was when they were putting in the port. They don't show them making the incisions for the laparoscopic ports, or closing them up. C'mon... you know you wanna watch it! I was amazed that the liver actually looks like liver! lol

I'm sure this has been mentioned around here before, but I haven't come across it... This is a webcast from last summer, but I recently came across it and found it pretty cool to see. I think it would be good for anyone who's curious to see what exactly they do in there, and how everything looks. Go HERE and go down the list until you see "Lapband surgery" and go to it. Click on "view live webcast". You'll need the RealMediaPlayer. If you don't have it there's a link to get it on the left margin of the page I linked to above. Enjoy!

Whoah! Almost missed out on this! Hey guys, I'm getting banded on March 29. I start my Optifast on Tuesday... and I'm not looking forward to it. Glad to hear all of you who've been done already are doing good, and I'll be crossing my fingers for everyone coming up! Mandi

Hey Diana, Are you from Canada? Who are you getting banded by? I think you should post this question on a 'main' board, like here : http://www.lapbandtalk.com/forumdisplay.php?f=17 ... make the topic "looking for long term banders" or something like that to make sure it catches their eye. I don't know if there's anyone on here banded that long, but give it a try. I read your previous posts and it seems like that's your main concern. I don't think it's been done in North American longer than that, so it may be hard to find anyone banded as long as you're looking for, since this seems to be a predominantely American board. You said that from what you read, no one's been able to lose all their weight and keep it off. I don't agree with that at all. I think you should read some more. I'm scheduled for March 29, and I'm not worried. I know that whatever happens, I'll be better off than I am now. What I'm doing is much more safe than getting the RNY I was initially shooting for, and even if I lose half of the weight I want to, it's better than nothing and better than I likely would have been able to do on my own. If you're not sure you want to do this, than don't do it. If you think you can lose all the weight on your own again, that's awesome, and all the more power to you. Good luck.

Hey, It's called a Panniculectomy.... to remove the panniculus, which is the 'apron' of hanging fat that some are left with. Just thought I'd correct you guys, hope that helps Mandi

You should try posting this in the "Texas" area, I'm sure you'd get lots of answers there! This should be the link : http://www.lapbandtalk.com/forumdisplay.php?f=64

Cool... thank you! That's good to know! I live verrry far from where I'm having surgery, so I'm not able to attend any meetings (and there are none around here). All I've for band-support is this site and a couple other message groups. It would be nice to have actual meetings though. Thanks again... interesting stuff... that would be neat to see. I think my surgeon does have a 'demo' lapband, so I'll have to ask when I go see him next. Mandi

Something else... ok, lets say that once the band is on, the actual size of the opening that food can flow through is ... 10cm-ish. What's the width of that part of the stomach *normally*? I know it would vary by person... but roughly, does it cut the size in half? I dunno, for some reason, I was thinking it would be about an inch across. I just don't get how, if you've got a 10cm outlet for food (what, maybe 8cm if fully inflated?) how anything could possibly get stuck, and/or not just fall through (to the bottom part of your stomach). :|

Yeah, I knew about that diameter thing... BUT... is that the inside or outside diameter? and what's the inside diameter at various fill amounts?

Hey cashley, I've actually been curious to know... how big would you say the opening is when the band is at 4cc, 3.5, 2? (ie how big of an opening for food to go through) Thanks, Mandi

Hmmm... I think not brushing, and just using mouth wash is like driving your car through a car wash. I think using a waterpik and brushing would be like washing your car yourself at one of those pay places that have the high pressure hose, but going all out and using the foaming brush too! :confused: lol

lol... yeah, I had one of those too. I've had a few different flossing gadgets, I have a "hummingbird" flossing thingy, which I thought was cool, but... it's all flossing, just tech-ed up a bit. It's not that I can't floss or it's difficult... I just really do not like to do it AT ALL! I think I'm gonna give a Waterpik a try. My name is Mandi, and I'm a try-and-if-I-don't-like-it-return-and-say-its-broken-aholic. :kev:

I'm sure there's others who do too. I've been thinking of how I can get away with not doing it. Now, I might be making this up, but I'm sure I read or heard somewhere that using a "Water Pik" ( I think its technically called an 'oral irrigator") is just as good, if not better than flossing. There's SOME reason I've been asking for one for the last 2 Christmas's.... some one tell me it's true! Mandi

Cloe, I haven't gotten my band yet, but I can at least say that from talking to him, he seems super nice, and so do everyone at the clinic that I've talked to. His nurse, Marie is sooo nice! Whereabouts do you live? If it's far enough away from the clinic, you should see about whether you can have a phone consult. I had mine a couple days after they got my consult fee. Dr. Cobourn called me at home at 8 oclock at night! How cool is that?! We talked for about half an hour, and that was considered my consultation. I have to have a quick meeting with him the day before surgery, but that's it. Good luck, Mandi

( I don't mean a size ONE. lol A size that starts with one. ie: sz 18 !)( just wanna clarify in case any one says "What?! are you insane? That's TOO small!)

I don't even really know... I think my 'ideal' weight is 130, which would mean 150 lbs. But... who knows, I might be feelin' fine at 200. How about you? I think what I'd like more than anything is to be able to wear a size that starts with a 1 !

Hey Cloe! When in March? I'm gettin' my band on the 29th. Maybe I'll wave to you on the way into surgery!

Oh man... definitely a memorable day from hell.

I was just thinking the other day about some of things people have said to me that will always stick with me... one day, maybe 5 years ago, a girl I was going to school with was telling me how this really good looking guy friend of hers told her how he liked hooking up with 'fat chicks', for that very reason. I'd never thought of it before, and have ever since, worrying that that's the reason any guy ever hits on me. Another time, in highschool, I was walking towards a couple guys, and as I passed him the one guys said "slap the fat, and ride the wave" and made a 'wave' motion with his hand. :cry Mandi

Awesome. I'm glad I could have been of some help! Keep us all posted on what happens! Mandi

Illude: lol, even though you're not Canadian, you're allowed, just cause you freakin' ROCK! Amazing job. :mad:

lol, a boyfriend pillow! Always thought that was funny! Good ideas guys.

actually, I was pretty set on getting the RNY (gastric bypass), and was very turned off by my 3 year wait to just have a consult with the Dr. When I was finally presented with the opportunity to get some help paying for it, I researched like nuts, decided on Dr. Cobourn.. I gave 'em my $200 for the consult (early Feb), and had it by phone a couple days later (cause I'm so far away) and got my date at that time. I was a little disappointed, since it was 8 weeks and not the 4-6 weeks I was told they were booking for. But whatever, it's turned out to be for the best. And it's a hell of a lots better than waiting 5 years. He said that if I wanted it sooner, Dr. Mumford had earlier opening, but I said "No, I'll stick with you." He's the one I'd spent all the time researching, so I thought that would be best. Dr. Mumford sounds great too. Too bad yours isn't closer to my date (or better yet, mine closer to yours!).. it would be nice to meet someone who's gonna be there when I am. Is yours going to be at the clinic too? Mandi