Cindy C

You can't let yourself worry about the "what ifs". You need to take everything as it comes. The stress of the unknown is probably contributing to your binging. You can't change future events, the only thing you can control is how you respond to them.

You can do it, Sparky! That's only 2-3 pounds a week. Good luck!

Standard. I honestly don't see the point of doing it under fluoroscopy. If the doctor is experienced he shouldn't need it. I also don't see the point of numbing the area either. Give a shot so you don't feel the next shot? Really???

It doesn't have to be water. Anything caffeine free and sugar free counts as water. Try caffeine free iced tea, s/f Koolade or vitamin water. I keep a glass of something handy all day long and just sip it occasionally. I wouldn't worry too much about the time between beverages and meals. My doctor say half hour before and after but honestly, I haven't followed that rule in a long time. I drink with my meals but usually only a couple sips to avoid getting stuck.

Sounds like your body has gone into survival mode. It's hanging on to every calorie because it's afraid it isn't getting enough. You need to do something to jump start your metabolism. Try upping your calories for a couple days. You should also change your workout routine. Don't do the same thing every day....mix it up.

I think we all understand your fear. I know I do! You know exactly what you have to do. Now, take a deep breath and go do it!!! Don't let yourself fall back into your old habits. If it helps (it helps me)...make copies of an old "fat" picture. The one that disgusts you the most. Put one wherever you will see it when the old ways try creeping in. Take a good, long look at it and remember. Remember how unhealthy you were...Remember how people treated you...Remember how you felt when you saw your reflection. You DON'T want to go back there! You did a great job losing and maintaining for SIX YEARS!!!! You can do it for the rest of your life!

Try drinking coffee in the morning. I always get them if I skip the coffee!

AWESOME!!!

I'm sure all you need is a little fluid taken out. Reflux usually indicates that you are too tight. You probably have a little swelling.

My Shih-tzu did the same thing to me shortly after surgery. Hurt like heck for a few days but no damage done!

Absolutely! Eating slow and taking small bites helps. The reason they tell you to do so is not just so you don't get stuck. It's also because it takes 10-20 minutes for the brain to get the message from the stomach that it is full. Eating slowly gives the brain the time to get the message so you will stop eating. Don't kick yourself about binging. We all are guilty of that, that's part of what brought us to this point in the first place. The band and following the program will help you get passed it. If you slip up just get yourself back on the bandwagon. After 3 years and 145 pounds I still catch myself doing it periodically.

It never ceases to amaze me what different doctors tell their patients to do. My post fill diet has always been liquids for 12-24 hours and then eat what you want! I can't believe that some doctors post fill instructions last for several days. I would still follow the doctors instructions and NO...flour tortilla are not a soft food!

That's great. Good for you! Comments like that from causal acquaintances and people you don't see often can give you more incentive than the ones you get from your closest friends and family!

I had a tooth extracted yesterday morning and didn't eat ANYTHING the rest of the day. Just a Protein shake and about a gallon of iced tea since it was 106 degrees out. Well guess what???? I gained a pound! Are you kidding me? So here I am checking in back at 179.4!!! OY!!!

I think my favorite was the time I stopped at my girlfriend's house on my way home from the gym. I was wearing shorts and a sports bra kinda thing. As I pulled up in front of her house her son (just home from Iraq) was getting in his truck. He knew I had had surgery and lost weight but we hadn't seen each other since his deployment. As I walked up the driveway I could tell he was checking me out in his side mirror and I heard him say "WHOA!" kinda under his breath. I stopped and said hello and welcomed him home and he just stared at me with his eyes bugging out and his chin down to his chest and didn't say anything. I leaned into the window and said "Hey, Adam," He said "Yea?" and I said "You can close your mouth now!" LOL!! Poor kid was so embarrassed! He may be a 6'4" lean mean fighting machine now but I've known him since he was 4 years old and afraid to go potty by himself!!!

Are you sure you're not pregnant?

To all of you who had your surgeries in the past few days...make sure you are drinking lots of water. Even if it makes you sick to your stomach, get in as much as you can. With the heat wave we're having across the country (it was 106 here in Detroit today) added to your recent surgeries it will be so easy for you to become dehydrated. Trust me, you don't want that!

I did it too. I was lucky that when I got my surgery date, I only had about 3 1/2 weeks. I ate like a pig for the first 10 days and got it out of my system. I dieted my a$$ of for 2 weeks and managed to lose 15 pounds.

Sounds like a real loser to me. Mine sees patients at the lapband center inside the hospital Mondays, Thursday mornings, Fridays and between surgeries on Tuesdays. Thursday afternoons he spends in his "real" office seeing his general surgery patients but will see a lapband patient there in an emergency. The only time he is unavailable is Wednesdays when he is doing surgery at the other hospital in town. He has a partner who is available when he is not. He even met me at the hospital on a Saturday once when I was too tight from a fill on Thursday. He is supportive beyond belief as is his entire staff. I NEVER could have had the success I have without him and them. Every one of us deserves the same. If you aren't getting that then you should maybe think about switching doctors if that's an option. In answer to your question...YES your surgeon really is that bad! Although I do agree that if you can swallow your own saliva and water you will be ok for a couple days. You just need to put yourself on liquids until he can see you. But you shouldn't have to wait more than a day or two.

Well have a fun trip and Happy Birthday!! If I didn't have to work tomorrow, I would be tempted to meet you in Lansing just so I could hear YMCA being played on a Ukelele!

Cipro comes in liquid form. If you haven't already filled the script I would request the liquid.

You're driving almost 300 miles each way to buy a Ukelele? You must REALLY LIKE the ukelele!!! I bet YMCA is awesome on it!!

Welcome.

Welcome and congrats on your success thus far. You're right, exercise is key. The weight will fall off much quicker with it. Good luck in your journey!

It would help if you were a little more specific about where you are looking. Manitoba is a big place. I searched and found only one...in Winnipeg. It's the Maples Surgical Centre. But since it's the only one I found I'll assume that's the one you already contacted. How far are you willing to travel and do you need to stay in Canada or can you cross the border? There are a couple in Grand Forks, ND. That's about 3 hours from Winnipeg but I guess it beats going to Mex-ico!