Juliana

Welcome!!! Congratulations on your lap band!!! YAY!!!! This is a great place for support!!!! Sounds like you are doing great with your band.. I love mine and am so glad every day that i did it and would do it again in a second!!!!!!!! I'm from Alabama too! Talk to you soon!!

My hair is coming out too!!! I am almost 6 months post op, and it started about 3 months ago with me... Thank goodness, i had really thick hair, but i can really tell a difference and it has really been bothering me...it is in the shower, it is all over all the floors...the vacuum cleaner really gets a workout..lol i'm so glad for this post because i'm going to try the biontin vitamins... I think anesthesia changed my hair TEXTURE as well.. i have always had big, thick wavy hair.... my gallbladder was taken out one month before my lap band and ever since that surgery, my hair has wanted to be flat and straight...it tries to curl, but just can't quite get there... has anyone else had the texture change as well? I thought maybe after the lap band surgery the anesthesia would shock it back into normal curls, but no such luck...lol Thanks for the posts! I'm going to try the vitamins

I could probably eat whatever i wanted, but like some others have said, i'm too chicken to try bread... I'm scared that it will get stuck, or if it doesn't get stuck, i will want it all the time like before surgery. I've only had one fill, so i do not have good restriction right now and will get my second fill at the end of November. I am eating too much because i'm hungry, but i still eat so much less than i did pre-surgery. I seem to be in a food jag with tuna here lately. It fills me up faster, and i eat it with a few crackers so at least i feel like i have had some carbs. I love potatoes, but only eat them once per week or less. I'm having to use a lot of self control right now because i don't have good restriction...and that's hard. I've also had some major stressors recently and i found myself eating comfort foods, which is all the wrong stuff, but i'm getting back to it and will be glad to get some restriction soon :rolleyes2:

I'm a gulper too...I love to guzzle my water or unsweet tea down.. i've only had one fill, and about due for another one, so i can still gulp and guzzle right now. I'm also a nurse on a busy floor, so i have to chug down water when i can because i might only get one chance that day... I dread it when i'm restricted enough that i have to sip....i mean, good restriction will be great, but i will miss my gulping.. Good luck!!!

Thanks guys for the comments.. :mad2: I think this is a battle we will always have to deal with.

Hey guys..... i haven't been on the site for a few weeks and thought i would write a blog for a little update.... My surgery was June 2 and I have lost 66 pounds to date. I have had great willpower and control and been able to handle most of my temptations until the past couple of weeks..... On October 15, we moved into our first house. What a great day :confused: The next day, i received a phone call from my boss that i no longer had a job. I'm a nurse and work on a cardiac step down unit in the hospital. The hospital board held a meeting and decided it best to shut down the entire heart program effective immediately at the hospital because it was losing money. Without notice or warning, in one night, 40 of us were out of a job. They transferred our patients to other departments or to other hospitals. We didn't get the chance to say goodbye to our co-workers or anything. The hospital did not have any openings in other departments to place us in because of all the cut backs they have been doing. This week, i have been job hunting like a crazy person and was able to get a job at another hospital. I took a paycut, and took a department that is not my area of expertise nor desire, but it is a job and i am so thankful to have it. Needless to say, a lot of my willpower has went out the window this week. I have found myself eating comfort foods.....and eating too much.... I find myself walking by the table and putting a piece of halloween candy in my mouth....not even realizing what i'm doing until i've done it, and thinking, why did i just do that?? I should not have the candy in the house, but i wanted to have it for the neighborhood kids, and have not even been tempted with it until now... it's all emotional.... How do we stop this crazy cycle of emotional eating?????? YIKES!!!! I have really got to get back on the straight and narrow!!!! Thanks for reading, and any advice is always welcomed!!!! Julie

Hey guys..... i haven't been on the site for a few weeks and thought i would write a blog for a little update.... My surgery was June 2 and I have lost 66 pounds to date. I have had great willpower and control and been able to handle most of my temptations until the past couple of weeks..... On October 15, we moved into our first house. What a great day :mad2: The next day, i received a phone call from my boss that i no longer had a job. I'm a nurse and work on a cardiac step down unit in the hospital. The hospital board held a meeting and decided it best to shut down the entire heart program effective immediately at the hospital because it was losing money. Without notice or warning, in one night, 40 of us were out of a job. They transferred our patients to other departments or to other hospitals. We didn't get the chance to say goodbye to our co-workers or anything. The hospital did not have any openings in other departments to place us in because of all the cut backs they have been doing. This week, i have been job hunting like a crazy person and was able to get a job at another hospital. I took a paycut, and took a department that is not my area of expertise nor desire, but it is a job and i am so thankful to have it. Needless to say, a lot of my willpower has went out the window this week. I have found myself eating comfort foods.....and eating too much.... I find myself walking by the table and putting a piece of halloween candy in my mouth....not even realizing what i'm doing until i've done it, and thinking, why did i just do that?? I should not have the candy in the house, but i wanted to have it for the neighborhood kids, and have not even been tempted with it until now... it's all emotional.... How do we stop this crazy cycle of emotional eating?????? YIKES!!!! I have really got to get back on the straight and narrow!!!! Thanks for reading, and any advice is always welcomed!!!! Julie

Hey Fairy!! Your new picture on your signature is absolutely breathtaking!! You are so beautiful :thumbup: I wish i had the relationship with Dr. Mailapur that you have with Dr. Freeman. Dr. Freeman seems so nice and understanding. Dr. Mailapur is nice to me, but i just feel like he doesn't wan't to participate so much in helping me make this band successful. He will say, "i've done my part, now the ball is in your court, it's up to you.". I knew he wasn't a big supporter of the band going in, so i can't complain there, but i didn't know he was going to be hesitant and weird about fills. I feel like if i tell him i need another fill, he is going to think i'm crazy. Oh well. I'm just going to keep on doing what i'm supposed to. I'm stuck again. Not gaining, but stuck. I know i need to be exercising, but just been so busy lately with all this house stuff. We close Sept 30, so maybe things will get back to normal then. But i really think i need a little fill. But not like he did last time! Not 2cc at one time!!! I tried to tell him just a little, but he didn't listen to me. I just think that is too much at one time. I think it is better little by little. I couldn't even get grits or mashed potatoes down when he did that. Oh well. Talk to you later, Julie

Hey Sunnylilme! I hate that you have had to spend all that money and go through all that with Dr. Foreman!! That is horrible. I just really don't know what to tell you. I would not reccomend Dr. Facundus because of what i have heard other people say, and as you know, Dr. Mailapur is my surgeon, and you know how he feels about the band. I feel kind of trapped. I picked him because he was nice, despite his disbelief in the band (and in me), and he is an excellent surgeon in the operating room. So, i can't complain i guess, because i knew how he felt going in, however, i did not realize how he would be about fills. He puts a little saline in the band during surgery, so he doesn't fill you for the first time until 12 weeks post op!!! Did not know this either untill after surgery and until my first fill. when he finally did my first fill, he put too much and i couldn't eat for 7 days. Then he took some out, and now, i know i need some more, but i feel like he is going to think i'm crazy so i'm just waiting it out. I feel like i am suffereing because he is not passionate about the band. I have friends that go to him who have had the bypass, and he is very caring with them. He is very sweet to me, but still says all the work is up to me...he has done his part, and the ball is in my court... It's just kind of discouraging... I haven't lost any weight in several weeks...not gaining, just stuck and i'm eating exactly what i'm supposed to..high protein, low carb, low fat.. I'm sure i need a fill, or maybe i'm not eating enough calories, but i feel like i don't have that great relationship with my surgeon that we all need with the band and our surgeon. I do need to be exercising, but we are in the process of buying a house so things are crazy right now..lol Well, i'm sorry that i wasn't much help to you, and I just rambled on...lol I would look in to Dr. Freeman as Fairy suggested. Apparently he is really nice and she really likes him and a good relationship makes all the difference. They need to be willing to work with you and fill and unfill you as needed so you get the most success out of your band. I unfortunately do not have this relationship. Since Dr. Mailapur did my surgery and is nice to me, i would feel bad if i betrayed him, so i'm going to stick it out. Good luck to you! I wish i had better advice for you. Keep us updated! Julie

Hey Gone 4 ever and Choosie!!! How are ya'll doing? Just wanted to say hi back to ya'll. And choosie, you know anytime you are homesick, you can get some good comfort from here Julie

Hey Queen, Feel free to message me anytime you want. I will answer all your questions about Dr. Mailapur honestly. People have different views about him. I like him, but at the same time, it can feel that he is not very supportive of the band sometimes. Good luck honey, and keep me posted and like i said, you can private message me anytime if you want more info Take care, Julie

Hey Tonya!!! Nice to meet you!!! I am so sorry you had such a bad experience with Dr. Mailapur. I too had some trouble with him, but I'm a nurse and from a nurse standpoint and having nurse friends at Huntsville hospital, Dr. Mailapur seemed like the best in the operating room. He is a perfectionist and is a really good surgeon. But as far as the band, he is NOT fond of the band.. He told me that most of his patients do not lose much weight and that i would not lose all the weight i needed to. He encouraged me to get the gastric bypass , but respected my decision for the band. In fact, he told me that i would probably only lose 40 pounds. But, i've already proved him wrong..haha.. He hurt my feelings, but there was still something about him that i liked. And now, i use his lack of faith in me to keep going and prove him wrong. Maybe i'm crazy. He just did the RYN for a friend of mine and she is doing great. She is also a nurse. I just didn't want to do the bypass. I got my first fill a few weeks ago. It was too much. I couldn't eat for 7 days. Then he took some saline out, and it was better for a few days, but now i could eat too much if i allowed myself, but i don't. I measure everything out, but i'm not full when i stop. But because of how he is, i haven't told him, just decided to wait until my next visit in a couple of months. He is an excellent surgeon, but as far as the band, i think he doesn't want to deal with them and now i feel like i'm kind of cheated out of a good relationship with my surgeon. Because the band fills are trial and error, and i feel like he doesn't want the trial and error with the band, so therefore, i suffer until the next fill. Oh well. I still find him sweet, and he has been proud of me for what i have accomplished so far. I just hate he made you cry. That breaks my heart. I haven't heard anything either way about Foreman. I can definately see what i can find out. I have however heard NOT NICE things about Facundus. A friend i met on this website, and other people i know have said that he is NOT GOOD. Good luck to you girl and you will have to keep me updated!!! Please keep in touch. Take care, Julie

Hi Chic28!!!! Everyone has given you such excellent input, but i completely understand what you are going through.. My primary care physician was against me having the surgery. She is against WLS in general. She says if i don't change my brain, it doesn't matter what we do to my stomach. I love her, respected her opinion, and she supported me, just was against it. She now tells me how great i am doing and she has recommended this to a couple of her patients now...I changed her mind about this :tt2: Now, my surgeon, ....i respect him also, but he told me from the beginning that he thought i needed the bypass and most of his band patients don't do well. He did not do bands until a few years ago. He prefers his patients have the bypass. He did not think i would succeed with the band and i would have to be very disciplined. I just use his words to prove him wrong :thumbup: I am doing well with my band and i keep his words in my head and can't wait until next year when i really have proved him wrong... He is very happy with my weight loss and does tell me this in the office. I think they tell us this to keep us on the right track sometimes.. It's not nice, and not encouraging, but I know i can do this and be successful. Just hang in there honey, and prove your doctor wrong!!! You can do it.. Just don't get discouraged. We are all in this together!!

YAY!!!!!!!! I'm so glad you feel better!!!! That's great!!! I leave in 1 hour to go to my appointment for my unfill. I hope that is what i need! I'm ready to feel better. Talk to you soon girl :tt2: Julie

Hey Alabamagirl!! we are neighbors too!!! I hope you get your surgery date soon!!!

Hey Michelle!!! I live in Decatur, had my surgery done at Huntsville. I'm a nurse. I was banded on 6/2/08!! Nice to meet you neighbor!!! This is a great place for information and friends!!! We are gonna get skinny together!!! woo hoo :tt2: This is gonna be the best journey we have ever been on!!!! Keep in touch and talk to you soon. Julie

Everyone is different. You are still healing and learning during this time, so don't get discouraged if you are not losing much weight. I was not in the normal in this phase as i lost 18 pounds in the first 2 weeks after surgery. But you have to keep in mind that i was over 300 pounds. I think my body was in shock that it was not getting any food. At least on the preop diet, we were allowed one healthy meal per day. And, yes, usually the heavier you are, the more you might lose at first. After those 2 weeks, my weight loss subsided for a few weeks, then picked back up. Just remember that everyone is different and you WILL Lose!!! Good luck!! :cursing:

Leslie, you should toot your own horn girl, you look great!!! And Hollie, way to go girl!! And Heather!!!! (love the chair.) And All of ya'll, ...wow!! I can't wait until i get there. I can't wait until i can wear misses again :cursing: Until then, it's purses, shoes and make up for me...lol Oh, and yep, Kohl's is awesome!!! Keep up the good work everybody !!

Shannon, you do look so beautiful in your pictures!!! Definately let me know what you find out. I go tomorrow for my unfill and i will let you know what happens. When is your appoinment?? Talk to you soon

wow, you are doing great!!! I have just started exercising as well, and it helps me to feel better :cursing: I am also going for an unfill tomorrow. I got my first fill just last week, but i haven't been able to eat since then. I hope i feel better after tomorrow! Good luck to you :huh2: Keep up the good work!

Good luck!! You will be in my prayers!!! Keep us updated. Hope to see you on here soon

YAY!!! You should do something nice for yourself!!! When i made it to the 50 pound mark, i went and got a manicure and a pedicure.. I'm trying to reward myself with something other than food these days :tongue2: Congratulations!!!

Congratulations and good luck!!!! This is such a great place for information and friends going through the same thing. Keep us updated :cursing:

I think this must be normal....lol I have only gone down a couple of sizes in clothes....i'm only a few months into my journey, so i'm still not wanting to buy clothes, but i have a purse and shoe problem.. I keep buying purses and shoes like there is no tomorrow. I guess this is addiction transferrence... Just know that you are not alone... :cursing: And i'm sure that when i get down to a good size and like what my body looks like, i will go crazy buying clothes :huh2:

I would definately tell him!!! I completely understand what you are going through. I am a daddy's girl, and my dad was completely against this. He was so scared and it didn't matter how much i explained the procedure, he thought i would be better off doing it on my own....even though i have been up and down, lost and gained and never able to keep it off by myself. We had to agree to disagree about the surgery and he did try and talk me out of it several times. My dad was against it and never changed his mind, but he loved me and was right there with me on the day of surgery along with my mom and my husband, and my sister. Our relationship has not changed and he is so proud of me. Your dad may not understand, and may not approve, but he is your dad, and he will still love you and he will get passed his feelings about it. I think he would be more hurt in the future if he found out that you didn't tell him. Hope all goes well. Keep us updated! Julie