georgebals

Howdy! I just got back from Oregon road trip it was great. Hope everyone is losing weight like a bad habit. I'll be at Bahama Breeze Saturday, after Monte Carlo. Betty Boo & Hootie, I think Dr. Segura's Group is best. It's small & I can hear most of whats said. Dr. Segura would punish me if I didn't write about her in glowing terms. Her e-mail is ksegura637@hotmail.com . Her phone is 228-3306. Hasta Pronto, George

Howdy! Dear Shrink Group (shrinkage,weight loss). How is everybody doing? Hope this letter finds you all in good health. I was hoping October date had been set. I had a great time at Claim Jumpers. At the hockey game later, Colorado beat L.A. I'm in a free roll tournament today at 1P.M. Monte Carlo. For the new people. I went to Dr. Segura's monthly group, the 1st Wednesday of each month at $20. This is a great meeting + a small group. Surgical Weight Control Center's groups meet 2nd Wednesday at 6 P.M. with Brian Grace. The 4th Tuesday, 6 P.M. with Dr. Soong. Exercise=I go to Red Rocks Canyon a lot if any body wants to go hiking I've always had an open invite on this site. Am heading to Laguhlin in the morning & South Coast this week. Want to go to Oregon & Washington next week & will decide on duration when next dinner date is settled on. Hasta Pronto, George :thumbup::smile:

I am really confused by your posts. You have wrote that realize was invented in garage. You have not had Weight Loss Surgery & pre-op you have more to say about fills than a Doctor, fill nurse or patient. Please blow your smoke up someone else's backside. Any successful weight loss band patient, fill nurse or Doctor can teach you when you need a fill. Hasta Pronto, George

I have not had a fill yet. I was banded 1/15/08. I talk to my fill people & Doctors on a weekly basis & will get one if needed. I also had 10 years after my 1st WLS seminar to think about how I will act after my WLS. The best day of my life was Losing my morbidly obese handle. Dr. Atkinson & Dr. Soong installed my realize band. I have had no restriction since leaving hospital on day after surgery. My hardest time was the liquid diet. I hate broth + jello! I have excellent support groups. I had no idea how fast my life would change for the better. I weigh 222 pounds & have lost over 130 pounds. BMI 52 vs 36. I am losing my ass in Vegas & Loving It!! Hasta Pronto, George:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

Howdy! Mary sorry to hear about your loss. Wish you well. Hope to see you at Octobers dinner.Every one else sounds to be doing well. It was fun reading everyone's history on this thread. Am going east in September, 9th-24th, New England, New York & Maine for the colors. I got cleared by my orthopedic Dr. for my spine fusion surgery(3/17/06) on Thursday. Friday was released to 1 visit every 6 months. Dr. Emery said my results are excellent (blood). I have been spending a lot of money at Dillards at Maryland Pkwy. $4.99 each for $100 shirts & pants. I can no longer shop at big + tall section. My shrink has successfully shrunk me. Dillards has me on speed dial for sales. Lost more weight this week, than I did last month. Lost 128 pounds & they are gone 4ever. No fills Yet! I hope I'm late Saturday, Good Luck, Hasta Pronto, George:thumbup::tongue_smilie::thumbup: Losing my ass in Vegas!

You won't have long to weight now. I did have restriction in the hospital. Think it was surgery that caused band area to swell. A week later I got permission to go swimming. When I went to the bottom of deep pool I could feel my band. Liquids were my hardest time. I just ate (drank) jello & broth. I didn't know about flavored whey protein shakes. You should get a hold of Dr. Curry of Cincinnati, Ohio. He has several web sites (one is Q+A). He has several patients with realize band, better results than me. Wish You the Best of Luck, Lite Duty, Hasta Pronto, George:thumbup::thumbup:

Thank you Chris. You made my day! Hasta Pronto, George:thumbup::thumbup:

After I healed from spine fusion surgery. It is rehabing from this Surgery that started to find out the right Questions to ask about Weight Loss Surgery. Weight Loss Surgery with the Adjustable Gastric Band. This book came out this year. This is the 4th time I've lent this book out. I got the line about rocket science from a paragraph about ' "a Cure for High blood pressure". I threw in part about by-pass because your changing internal plumbing & will not be able to absorb the vitamins & minerals. Weight loss with WLS or dieting is good. Yo-Yo-ing is bad. This band site & I are bias toward the band. Sorry for going on so long but i think this girl is basing a major decision on one seminar. I hope this thread will help her ask a lot more Doctors & WLS patients. Ask how they feel 1 day, 6months, 1 year post op. Also where I can't get any info is 5 & 10 years out. Good Luck, George

I started my Weight Loss Journey over 10 years ago. I flew from Fairbanks, Alaska to Auburn, Washington to learn about Weight Loss Surgery. The WLS were being preformed in Auburn Hospital & a hospital in Monterrey, Mexico. Dr. Fox led the seminars and provided info on gastrc by-pass surgery. i don't remember laprascopic surgery even offered then. For band installation you had to go to Mexico or Europe. Guidelines for gastric by-pass were different then. Mortality rates were high at surgery. Doctors would pass on morbidly obese patients(as to high of risks). Memory if correct,Dr. Fox would take high risk patients. Dr. Fox told me this is a serious operation. A thimble of full food would be my meals for the rest of my life- fast forward to pre-op 3/17/06 spine fusion surgery. Dr. Thalgott's PAC tells me to stop smoking &

I'm on Social Security Disability. Medicare covers most. They require 6 months GP Doctor supervised diet. I gained a lot of weight during this time. 6 months turned into a year. $1,025.00 is what I handed over pre-op. Last month I got another less than $500.00 bill. I also paid a few blood works out of pocket. I stayed over night in the hospital. I found there were 3 different prices at the time of my band. Band surgery was easy for me. I had spine fusion surgery on 3/17/06. The PAC there told me the secret to successful surgery is to get active as soon as possible. This works well with band surgery. You will do well. Fix your head & hold on tight for the ride of your life. Good Luck, Hasta Pronto, George:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

My sister is fine now. At the time she was working for Johnson & Johnson. They make realize band. She is a health care pro in another field. She lost about 100 pounds with the help of company diet & exercise. She was tired of yo-yoing. She was finishing college, raising kids & starting new Family. She also wanted a fast permanent fix. 2 weeks after WLS/by-pass she returned to hospital. She now works for Covidien makers of lap-band. I get important info on WLS from sister. If she could do it over, it would be band. To me, After you change the plumbing inside yourself your screwed for life. With band you have many chances. I have not met a mistake free human being yet. Everyone makes mistakes after weight loss surgery. I'm only 7 months active at this new life style. I could not have lost weight without band. By-pass surgery should be the very last life or death effort at WLS. By-pass surgery will take years off your life. Good Luck, This is what I have learned in the last 10 years of seminars & surgeries. You have to talk to a (WLS) psychologist & by-pass patients in person & lots of Doctors. By-Pass is not a magic bullet! By-pass is non renewable. There is more bang for your buck with a band. If you are self pay try band 1st. WLSs big secret is weight loss is in your head. There are more old banders than there are old Doctors. Doctors only give you a tool, the rest is up to you. I have been very lucky! Hasta Pronto, :thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:George P.S. band is not rocket science, by-pass surgery IS,

I found out that I had a realize band installed in me in June. I was banded 1/15/08. I wish I had known sooner. I registered with RealizeMySuccess, this is a great site. Have someone help take down your measurements & log them in. Lap-Band also has a site. Both have phone numbers you can call. On some of my other posts I have info on realize. Women should get measurements pre-op. I lost a combined loss of 24 inches since May. I lost a bothersome burdening 127 pounds of fat & torture. 52 to 36 BMI. I have not had a fill yet. Exercise, eat correctly & go to support groups. For me I feel that I've made a large down payment on 10 or 20 years of Quality Life in the last 7 months. Losing my ass in Vegas & Loving it. Hasta Pronto, George:thumbup::thumbup:

Realize Band= 1/15/08 Dr. Atkinson & Dr. Soong at North Vista Hospital, North Las Vegas, Nevada. Lost 127 pounds + morbid obesity 4ever. No fills yet. Good Luck to all & may all your flushes be Royals. Hasta Pronto, George:thumbup:

Thanks. I'm down to about 5 Doctors now. My spine fusion Doctor released me on 8/7/08 with a your healed now. My GP Doctor 8/8/08 said my blood labs & weight loss are fantastic. I moved to Las Vegas to get my whole body over hauled. Without ambien cr I do not sleep. Without sleep I do not heal. I have learned to stay away from food after taking pill. I've made all my Doctors aware. WLS (band) is the best thing that has happened to me. Prior to WLS I had to have spine, shoulder & ankle surgeries. Now I need Knees, Prostate & a sleep labs. In my old life, I was a hard rock miner. I am in far better shape than other miners. I will be paying off these surgeries for some time. Money won't buy happiness, but it will buy the misery that I prefer. Thanks for concern. I have lost over 125 pounds, so things are changing quick. Hasta Pronto, George:thumbup: I'll get off it= Next Goal

I thought that with a by-pass operation you would be tethered to a Doctors office or clinic. This would be for blood labs & lack of vitamins.The 15% failure rate you mention, can you provide percentages for by-pass? The only reason I'm tethered to a Doctors Office is for support groups & learning about WLS. I've read that a person is 3X more successful at weight loss by going to groups. Regardless of your choice, Good Luck & Hope you have a gaggle of babies:thumbup:. Hasta Pronto, George p.s. Over 10 years ago My choice was limited to open by-pass surgery in U.S. I could only get band in Mexico or Europe. My sister almost died after by-pass surgery 2 years ago. This is such a new science where numbers change daily. Good Luck Again!!!

I'm still taking Ambien CR. For me pill is small enough to go right thru to main stomach. Last time I felt restriction was in hospital being banded, 1/15/08. I also take several vitamin pills. a multi, B-Complex & a large Neuro-PS. I will visit Family on East Coast + have them listen to me sleep in September. They said I used to keep everyone awake. Good Luck Hasta Pronto, George:thumbup:

Yes I did on 1/15/08. Lost & Gone Forever 125 pounds. No fills yet. The Best Day of my Life was Losing Morbidly Obese Handle. Check out RealizeMySuccess.com. Good Luck, Hasta Pronto, George:thumbup:

You can always change your mind with a band, & have it removed. Most people with by-pass, that I know wish they could have had band. The Doctor that did my blood work, is now a band man. He told me to have by-pass surgery. I told him no way. People that have had weight loss surgery will make mistakes. The band is more forgiving. Yesterday I got results of blood works everything was great. I have gotten by-pass results with my band. Banded 1/15/08. Pre-op I was 55.2 BMI at a Morbidly Obese weight of 352.5 pounds of torture. I now weigh under 225 pounds & a BMI of about 36. I have not had a fill yet. Losing my ass in Vegas & Loving it! I wish you the best of Luck. Hasta Pronto, George:thumbup::thumbup:

Yvonne 72, Good Going! I got cleared from my orthipedic Doctor yesterday-done. Today I got cleared by my regular Dr. on blood labs. Am weighting for 16th . Am going to have my partner in crime there, Her name is Margy. She rides a motorized chair. She is to follow my strict instructions & not let weight staff (waiters) to touch my plate or remove meal from table. Like they tried at BaBa Rebbas. My tournament starts at 1pm, So I hope to be a little late. Margy will be there early. Not really looking for it, but lost 125 pounds. Got 2 comp nites @ Planet Hollywood, 12 & 13th. I can't weight to see gang at P Fs. Hasta Pronto, George:thumbup::thumbup:

There is so much to learn in so little time. Last night we listened to Dr. Sohn & Dr. Hankins Talk about plastic surgery with by-pass. I got to start saving my pennys for 2010. Lost 125 pounds since 1/15/08. Best day, losing Morbid Obesity. No fills yet! Good Luck,Just a long week wait for you Vegas Girl. Hasta Pronto, George:thumbup::cry_smile::thumbup: Dr. Atkinson said it is coin flip for which band to install. Allergan has been approved over 4 years. Waiting for info from Lap-Band .

Hi. The LVRJ did a story of a reporter trying to get her head fixed (face lift). That she didn't need. One of Drs. is Hankins. She rates them. Would like to talk to you about walk in September. The way it's going for me, I'll:thumbup: have to save my pennys now for PS in 2 years. Good Luck. Hasta Pronto, George

I just found this site today. It features all that Realize site does, plus a 7 day a week phone number. It's ad is right here on LBT.com. I hope this helps in choices. I will try calling in the morning. Good Luck, Hasta Pronto, George:thumbup:

Hi! Once the band is in it's our job to know when we need a fill. Thats the hard part. I mostly say I have not had a fill yet. Ask your Doctor what kind of band you have. If it's Realize you can go to RealMySuccess.com & have personal weight loss site. I think you can do this with lap-band also. Learn to know everything about fills. If you need it, get it. I have several support groups. I go to support group meetings over 5 x a month. This is a brand new science. Buy this book " Weight Loss Surgery with the Adjustable Gastric Band". It has Helped me a lot . I hope you reach all your goals. Good Luck. I think in 5 years time our bands & book will be history and weight loss will be different. Now I think it's 80% band 20 by-pass. 3 years ago opposite. I'm just starting on my weight loss journey. It's been fast,slow,hard,easy & lots of fun. Again Good Luck, Hasta Pronto, George:thumbup:

I had the Realize band installed in me 1/15/08. You are the 1st person I heard of that has a choice. I can't spell the new lap-band brand (something like Alergen). My clinic does both. To my understanding Realize is a 9cc band, & lap band brand has 2 sizes. Realize has been permitted in U.S. for about a year & 1/2 + the new lap-band brand band about a year. Even though they have been used over a decade. I talk to doctors, fill nurses & company reps about successful weight loss. Bands have different ports. Lap-band has compartments in band. They don't or can't give details or percentages. I've lost over 122 pounds, no fills. One lady at my clinic out a year with no fills. Dr. Curry of Ohio reports several males w/o fills with realize. Your surgery is the same day as Vegas Girl. Good Luck to you both. It's a coin flip choice. You will do well either way. Be ready for the fastest changes in your life(style). Hasta Pronto, George:thumbup:

This is the best post I've read. Thank You Very Much! Very best of Luck to You. Hasta Pronto, George:thumbup: