amaltha

Hey Everyone. It has been far past anniversaries and goals and dates. I hope everyone's journey is going well and checking in to say howdy. My progress has been pretty good for the most part. I definately feel a great deal better with 80# off. Cheers to you!!! Amaltha

So today was my biggest milestone yet...I think. Today for the first time since the 1990's I am in a "normal" BMI range and not in the "overweight" or "obese" category!!!! YAY. I am not quite to goal but now I think I am in fine tune mode instead of drop drop drop mode. I am so excited. Thanks to everyone who is on here and so supportive!

Ok good I am not the only one...so any ideas what causes it?

yeah about the wardrobe...so since I got laid off the funds I was going to use for new wardrobe went bye bye. Soon enough I will get some things that fit pretty awesome. Thank you all for your well wishes... Question...does anyone else have this feeling: Sometimes if I am hungry and have a pretty empty stomach my port tends to be a little sore...but as soon as I eat that goes away...anyone else have that?

Just what I wrote on your page (and from my blog)...it was a trip for sure. Again you can contact me any time you like. Good luck!

almost in my thirties...had my band for a year. Today I just crossed into the normal BMI which I haven't been since my teens. No more overweight or obese!!! so I am doing pretty good. I would do it again in a heart beat

For me I tell them off the bat. Typically, we are eating dinner at a restaurant and they are staring at how much I take home in a doggie bag. I am the type of person who wears my heart on my sleeve if they can't handle who I am with or with out lappy the lap band then they probably are someone I shouldn't be dating anyway. Those are just my thoughts though...

Well I made it! Here was my experience: As most of you have read I did mine in Mexico and not the states because insurance denied me. We flew to SD and a gentleman was waiting to take us over the boarder. We arrived at the Hospital that was imaculate. Very state of the art and cleaner than any hospital I have seen in the states. Apparently they are doing a lot of advanced research there??? Anyway, I had all my pre-op stuff off the bat and then went to my room. Dr. Lopez came in and the anastegiologist came in we had a quick chat and then they came to take me to the surgery. I lied in bed for 20 minutes and then they took me to the surgery room. I saw Dr Lopez and smiled. *funny moment* So am a bit of a smarty pants. They had needed to get the the EKG thing and so my robe was down (breast exposed) and so I was about to go under when I looked at the one person I knew spoke english and whispered "you know I usually charge men to see these" and then I woke up in recovery shaking uncontrollably. They gave me something and we went back to the room. the enxt few hours as my prior people will say were the worst. I was sore, they weren't giving me very much pain meds. none of the nurses spoke a lot of english, and my spanish is broken enough for us to barely get by. The doctors all spoke perfect english. I got up to urinate often and walked up and down the halls when I did. The next day I was wisked away to drink some icky pink stuff and take another x-ray of me. (which looked pretty funky!) And then I was discharged. I had the choice of staying in the hospital another night and opted not to. (my mother is with me and is a nurse and I wasn't getting all the attention in the world so I figured it is best to get back in the states) So we bumped up my plans by a day to return home and get on with the rest of my new life. I am walking a lot. I feel the gas build up and am a bit sore from it and walking helps emencly. Sipping my broth and apple juice like a champ. Apparently, while they were operating on my they found a hiata hernia and he fixed me up right there at no extra charge. To all those who were in my situation financially. Here is who SHOULD NOT do this. If you are a person who likes plans, and likes to stick to solid timelines this is NOT for you. I am not sure how they do it in the states but there was just a fly by the seat of my pants feeling the entire time. I kept asking, "what time will the doctor be here? what time for this what time for that. all the answers were....oh he come find you. oh she will find you. When they said "we do this in 5 minutes" it always was an hour or better. It was a little annoying but I dealt with it. I can imagine someone who likes a tight ship would hate this. If at all possible bring a spanish speaker with you. I think that would have helped a little bit. Don't get me wrong I didn't have a BAD experience but there were moments of uncertainty. I was very scared getting wheeled around the moments before surgery, I was afraid of going under, and the surgery and they left me alone alot to sit on it. I keep thinking...wow in a matter of 24 hours I just changed the rest of my life. I suppose it is a similar feeling when you give birth to your first child. To all the other allstars I wish you the best! I want everyone to have a speedy recovery to the rest of our lives. Congrats to all my other 4th Peeps!

Hey congrats on hitting your goal...I am only about 10 pounds off...=) excited and it is so hard the same...but not gaining which is good too.

I hope everyone is doing well in their journey's and life has improved for everyone through this challenge. I can't believe it has been a year since I made the trek down to TJ but I am very glad I did and would again in a heart beat. Great job and good luck on continued success! Love, Cheriene

That is awesome...I have had similar reflections. A year ago there was a completely different me in energy. I am very thankful for this site as at first I had many questions and there were lots of people here willing to listen or give some good advice. Good luck and I know you will be in a bikini!!!! (PS we went down the exact same amount...70 in a year...GREAT for you!)

truckee is about 2.5-3 hours... I have friends that live in Tahoe currently so I use it as an excuse to go up and see them and get checked out as well. If you google Helmut Billy you will find his number. The office itself has crazy hours. I think they are only taking calls tues through thursday. And I almost gave up on him but glad I didn't because he was SO much better than the dude down in SF. I will dig up his number and try and get it to you

hello! I got banded on monday and was looking for some others that might be in the north state. I live in Chico but was wondering if any of the shasta or butte county crowd were here! Good luck to everyone!

Hi! I know nothing about support groups here...don't go to them but would be willing to meet with bandsters. I go to Dr. Helmut Billy up in Truckee...he is the best! His practice is in Ventura but comes up to Truckee one weekend a month and is just a really really cool doctor. He is more reasonable in price than any of the others (which the next closest is SF btw) I forget the name of the doctor down in SF but he was a real jerk and I will never go back to their center. Let me know if you want Dr. Billy's information. Good luck!

How did it go? Everything ok?

I flew a couple days after my band and maybe times since then. (not for 30 hours though) You will be fine. Be sure to get up and walk around and stretch a lot though. My coworker just flew to China and had to get sent home because of some nerve damage during flight. Apparently, it is recommended that after a LONG flight like that you should A) go lay down and sleep (I imagine to open up all the veins and blood flow???) or Go work out (again to open the blood flow I am guessing????) But she went to a business dinner right off the flight and then started with the sharp pains in her leg. Then they told her drink lots of Water which she overdosed on and ended up low on salt...it was a mess and very scary with international travel. She is fine now. Bottom line the band is a non issue with flying...enjoy your trip!!!

I was self pay in Mexico. Currently I am saving more money on food than ever so it is paying for itself in the long run. My problem with if I had done it in the US is that if I move (which is a HUGE possibility) I have to go around finding yet another new doctor to take care of my fills just as though I had done it outside the US. And it would have been about double the cost. So I just opted for the cheaper route. You can read my blog or thread about the experience in Mexico as it is a little different than in the US. The hospitals are far cleaner but the service was completely different. Good luck!