bubbyville

Ok- been watching this site...... Is there any Wisconsin banders out there? Would love to hear your story - or where you got banded etc. Looking forward to hearing from all my fellow cheeseheads. Tracy

I am also looking forward to ONEDERLAND!!!! :biggrin1: I was at 219 this morning. I want to hit 199 by my year anniversary. (6/20). I just had another fill Monday and I am positive that I can do this. I have had an absolutey horrible couple months - my mom-in-law has been diagnosed with cancer and has been in and out of the hospital - and at the same time her mom went into kidney failure. It is extremely hard to take time for yourself when you are chasing/caring for others. I now have them both home and things are starting to slow some. I am NOW doing for me!!!!! As of my fill on Monday, I have decided to get on the exercise wagon - - - the only way I am going to guarantee my goal!! Good luck to all of you - WE CAN DO IT - onederland here we come!!!!! Tracy

Personally, we celebrated Easter last weekend with my husband's family and they had ham - ham tends to get dry (imo) and I stayed away from it - I ate some cheesey hashbrown potatoes, a jello with fruit in it. a few raw veggies and a little pasta salad with shrimp = there was nothing much available for me that I thought would work with the band (breads, rolls etc no way). Should be interesting tomorrow though - my mom is making Lasagna, garlic bread (not going there) and I asked for a garden salad - oh can't forget the strawberry cheesecake. Happy Easter everyone!! Trac

WOW Greyhound How great is that - April 17th! That is just around the corner!! The liquid diet isn't that bad.....I did have a hard time with it the first 2 days and then it is smooth sailing. I will be thinking about you and wishing you well. If you have any questions OR want to talk about anything before during and after the surgery just let me know. Ok bout the work thing - :spy: OI????? right????? am I in the right ball park? I think I am, but then again could be really wrong. How bout time off of work?? Do you got yourself enough time......everyone is different for recovery so I hope you have time off planned just in case. And are they being good about this at work?? I was an exception to the rule for time off and really needed about 2 weeks cause I was a sick puppy from the anethetics - but then again people have been back to work after 3 days. let me know if I am barking up the right tree. Talk to you soon - and hope that check comes for you soon!! Tracy oh, can't make the meeting tonight - gotta do CPR instead - sounds like it is going to be a good one too (show and tell)

OK Greyhounder - How are things going for you??? Haven't heard if they locked you up after your Psych eval or not or how your journey is going??? I do beleive that I know you ---------possibly even worked with you ; ) Hope all is well and that you even have a possible surgery date scheduled. Let me know what's a happening!!!! Tracy

Ah, yes....what a b-e-a-utiful day it was yesterday. My daughter actually came home from school and asked if we were going to put the air on in the house - WHAT????? It was so nice, I think we played outside almost all day. Even my bird that nests in my birdhouse by my front door took advantage of the good weather - she was busten butt all day. Today isn't as nice though.....we did go out this morning and were able to go with out coats - we came in for lunch and wham.....I closed the house up. It is not only cooler BUT it is really moist out. Can't wait for more warm weather. Tracy

Now this was many many moons ago, but I remember it like it was yesterday. The summer before my senior year of high school, I started working out at a local health club - and really toned up and lost some weight. My first day of school, I was hanging with some friends (guys and girls) and one guy pulled me aside and told me " You are such a pretty girl, a good friend, and fun to hang around with but maybe if you tried to lose weight, someone might finally decide to ask you out." After working so hard all summer I couldn't believe he said that. As an adult, looking back at my senior year book - it is funny to see that in the pictures with my class mates, I looked exactly the same size as all of them. The other thing that does kill me is the reaction people have when I tell them that I had lapband surgery, "I never thought of you as fat or as having a weight problem." You can't tell me that people didn't see me as having a weight problem at 269# and 5' 4".

Hey Bec- Congrats on starting your journey!! Dr Erickson is awsome and so is Patrice. The test isn't too bad at Behavioral Health - just make sure you are filling in the answer to the right question or else looney bin here you go - just kidding. If you haven't hit up the support meetings.....I'd start. A great group of people with lots of helpful info - this month is show and tell so I assume there will be a lot of before/after pics there to see. Again, congrats and good luck!!! Tracy

Missy - Drier skin has always been a concern for me esp in the winter months, but since I was banded, it has become a chronic issue. My face has taken the hardest hit. I used to have the oily t-zone and now, feel/look extremely scalely when I wear foundation. Before surgery I didn't care what I looked like so I hardly wore make-up but now I want to look nice and it looks awful!! My small of my back and the front of my lower legs also are very dry. I too would like to hear if anyone else has experienced dryness issues since banding. Suggestions???

Sherilynn- I wasn't one of those great surgery outcomes either......but even with the issues that I had, it was worth going through everything to get to where I am today - and I can't wait to see where it takes me. I didn't go back to work for 2 weeks after my surgery and was extremely sick for the first 3 months after surgery and all the yuck stopped just like that and "bam" I feel like me again minus the extra weight!! Again, worth the problems to feel like I did 15 years ago. Everyone is different and recovers at different rates - the same with weight loss - no one is the same. Hang in there - it will get better - you will start feeling better!! Take Care Tracy

Courtney- The Psych test was honestly a joke....I want to kill my mom.....I often feel like hurting myself....etc. And if you don't get the right question with the right little answer circle key....your test results can really be screwed up. The one-on-one with the dr was more interesting....he was really concerned about weight loss vs divorce rate.....wants to check in with me one year later to see how things are....just very very weird. Good luck..just remember it is one more step closer to the band!!! Tracy

Hey you frozen cheeseheads...... I know, I know we have been way to spoiled this winter, BUT I am so ready for this extreme cold to go away. I had surgery (carpel tunnel) on Thursday and I told the nurse that I was tired of having such cold fingers (sometimes toes). She informed me that a lot of my coldness comes from my high blood pressure meds....hmmm makes sense now. Now, I have no coats (or gloves) to fit my big club hand or really no warm shirts that fit my big club wrapping- I have had to cut up 2 old sweatshirts to make due during this lovely weather. Not to mention, it is my right hand that is unusable at this time - makes for good laughs.... I just wanted to check in with you all to make sure you are all staying warm!!! AND to complain about the cold to any one that will listen.:bored stay warm...... Tracy

Hello from Fort Atkinson!!!

Rachel- Congrats on your up coming surgery. As for nerves, I didn;t get any until they were wheeling me into the operating room. I was so ready for the band that my mind was at ease. As for the food thing - I still can eat pizza(thin crust), drink wine and have even had a fry or two. I think that you will absolutely go nuts if you have to stop eating those foods - Those foods will still be around - in much smaller amounts. There will need to be a better balance of the foods you do eat though. I will admit though that I haven't had a cheeseburger since the beginning of June and I DO NOT MISS IT. (I wish I could say the same for chocolate- a habit I am fighting daily). Good luck to you next week - Tracy

Courtney - YEAHHHH!!! What an awesome feeling - ah, yes, I do remember it well!! Sounds like a surgery date could be just around the corner - keep us informed!!! Good luck! Tracy

Congrats Terry!!! You have had a long journey that will be well worth the time and energy once the band is in place! As for the larger liver - haven't heard of a longer pre-op diet but do remember that my Doctor said that a smaller liver made for a smoother surgery - they will be able to get at everything easier. I had to do a 10 day pre-op liquid diet and will tell you the first two days are the hardest...only cheated the 1st day and struggled with the 2nd day and then smooth sailing. As for the nerves, didn't have them until they started to cart me down the hall to the operating room. I was so ready the band and a change in me that nerves never showed up. Good luck and let us know how things are going. Feb will be here before you know it! Tracy

Hi everyone! My name is Tracy. (from WI) Bubby is a nickname that my DH and I called each other while we were dating. When we first got married we lived in the country near a small blow by town of Bussyville so we named our home Bubbyville. (ah what stupid things you do when you are in love).

Becca- My doc's stats show that it takes about 5 adjustments to get to the "sweet spot". I know that I am close to that spot. I have had 3 total adjustments and can't wait til Tues for my next fill. NOW remember- everyone is different- some people get there faster than that. Tracy

Shesha- Hey - eating hasn't been too terrible for me. I have had a little bit of a brat and also a hotdog off the grill - (chew, chew, chew and watch out for the skin). The most disappointing item would be steaks for me - I have a problem getting them to go down. (if that is the worst, I can survive.) As for that old fashioned - went out on a Friday night with the girls a few weeks ago for the first time since surgery - I had three drinks - and oh, my gosh - the room was spinning and I was terribly hung over the next day. (weight loss and drinking aren't the best combination if you don't know what you can handle). Believe me, I could drink that much pre-band and not even feel a buzz. So just go slow - Good luck in January!!! Tracy

KariWI and Laurigee - Another Wisconsin person here - Laurigee, you and I have the same Doctor - probably know you from the support meetings - I am one of the sassy ones. (aren't we all) Good luck everyone!!!! Tracy

Chubbola - I got banded in Fort Atkinson. My friend got banded in Madison - I should ask her who she had as a DR.? She is 1 year out and 100 #'s down. I started the whole process in March '06. I told the coordinator that I wanted to have the surgery the week after school got out and she laughed at me. She told me the process could take up to a year with some insurances - but I was bound and determined to get it done in June. I was lucky!!! We did it june 20th. The surgery itself went very smooth - I was so extremely calm, I knew that this is what I needed and was ready for the change. What happened after surgery is what was the worst experience!! My Dr. and I still am not sure what happened but I became terribly ill in the hospital. I threw-up in the hospital all the way until discharge (which they were not going to let me go home if it didn't stop). I don't know how or why but I got myself to stop long enough to get myself home and into my own bed. This was an occasional issue for about 3-4 weeks then I went into week long stomach flu yucks for the next month. That is how I lost all the weight so fast. This is not your average recovery!!! and it is not common at all to be so sick. We still are not sure why I was so sick - I tend to believe it was the anesthetics???? or maybe my body was trying to reject the band??? This time was terrible esp since I do in home daycare. My parents of my kids were very patient with me and this long long recovery. I was also thankful that my daughter was home most of that time and she was able to help me around the house because I was not able to do much. BUT now I feel much much better. I didn't get my first fill until @1 1/2 months ago. I didn't get hungry (I had to remind myself to eat) until before my first fill and I also didn't stop losing weight until just before my first fill. I now have had 2 fills and still am eating more than I should. My weight hasn't changed much within the past month either. I go back in on Tues for my third fill. We have been going very small amounts each fill because I am scared to get sick again. Fills aren't bad at all - my doc numbs the area before each fill so you really can't feel anything. I do need to start working out - walking or something though. I do have a machine in my basement and it is just collecting dust. I have been having problems with my wrists and that is now requiring surgery so I have been slightly laxed on the exersice thing. :guess I do know that my Doc says he can tell who does and who doesn't. I am very happy that I did this and would do it over again in a heart beat. I recommend it to everyone. I even make people touch my port!!! It is a great tool to help - I have done that rollercoaster so many times that I needed a more permanent thing - and believe me - you still have to work at it. I have more energy than I remember having in a long time. My favorite hobby is not sitting on my butt any longer. My children are enjoying their mom's new look. I even made my 11 year old cry when I showed her a new outfit I bought. The hardest thing is getting rid of all the oversized clothes. I never was able to throw out the things that I didn't fit into - just saved them because I probably would need them again - that ain't happening anymore!! Ok I rambled. It was great hearing from you. I did the same entry about 8 months ago to see if there were any WI out there and only heard back from one person (I know there are more of us out there too). Hope all goes well with your info session - let me know!! Take care Tracy

Hey Chubbola - I am a cheese head just like you!! I had my surgery on 6/20/06 and extremely happy that I did it. I am still working on getting my fill right. Let me know if you have any question - love to share !!!! Tracy

Awesome !!! What a great feeling!!! I know it makes my day when it happens (and it doesn't happen very often). I believe the people I know are more hesitant to say anything to me - I just had my first experience myself and it made my day!!! People weren't to hesitant to say things to me when I was heavier - at my highest weight an old co-worker asked me if I was pregnant again. I was so hurt. I told her no, I was just fat - thanks for noticing !!!

Cindy - isn't it great!!! I hadn't taken my meds since surgery - went in and they were just slightly elevated so I was able to cut my meds in half!!! Hopefully with a few more ###'s I will be as lucky as you!!! CONGRATS

Weighed 269 before surgery (June 20, 06) Weigh 218.5 this am (no restriction- getting a fill tuesday) Blood pressure meds have been cut in half - actually care what I look like when I leave the house - sitting on my butt is no longer my favorite hobby - have energy that I forgot was there - :biggrin1: :biggrin1: :biggrin1: :biggrin1: is the way I feel!!!