TexasTerry

I've wondered the same thing. Where I teach there are about 6 wonderful fantastic ladies that are as heavy as I am. They don't know what my summer vacation entailed. There are no band docs here. I traveled 300 miles to DFW area for this surgery. I noticed that my band doc is returning to our area again to give a seminar the end of sept. I want to tell and invite these ladies, but I'm afraid I would offend them. I keep turning this over in my mind. Terry :Banane27:

I still have some of the womens 501 levi's from college days when I was on diet pills all the time (packed away). I don't know if I will ever get that skinny again, but I LOVED those jeans. Terry :Banane27:

Welcome again from another Texan. What surgeon have you decided to go with? I think we are lucky here in Texas as we seem to have several very fine band doc's. Let us know how you are doing. Terry

Marissa - listen very carefully. You take care of yourself. When you graduate, you move out (with a job, etc. to support yourself). You love your mom and you always will, but DO NOT let her actions smother who you are or your path in life. She needs to stand on her own - you can't make her do it, but don't be running back to her. She is trying to control you and it is not healthy. This doesn't mean you can't be a support for her, please don't let her control you this way. Terry

Yikes, Princess, you need to take some action on this. Are you here in the U.S. - was the surgery done here? Please, please, please get an advocate to help you with this. An attorney or patients rights advocate or at least a good friend! I am not a heath care provider - I did work for Veterinarians for several years and I do know that there are drugs that produce this effect. You can't respond, but you are aware of everything going on. So, I believe you when you say you had this experience. Please stay in touch with us. Terry

Just use a permanent sharpie marker. I was gonna make a smiley face peaking over my waistline marker, but chickened out at the last minute. I shoulda done it. :confused: Terry

Welcome Leva13! I am also a patient of Dr. Smith. Had my surgery June 20th. Just had my first fill on Aug. 1st. Don't you agree he is just the best! I am sooooooo happy I had this done. Terry

He is the most fantastic person you will ever meet. Down to earth is just not enough good to say about him. I think he is one of the most sincere caring people I have ever met. He's an excellent surgeon too! You can't go wrong with choosing Dr. Smith Terry

And was I ever ready for it! I was banded 06/20/06 and just got my first fill on 08/01. I had been able to eat just about anything, but was really trying to eat healthy. I found out I have the VG band. When I asked the doc he said "that stands for Very Good" lol! :biggrin1: He started with 3.5cc (under fluro) and nothing would go down, so he took out about .5cc. I was a bit nervous about the fill needle. :faint: He doesn't use anything to numb the area. Geeeeezzzzzzzzz, he's good at it! I didn't feel a thing. He was in the first poke! I was worried about nothing. Silly me.:nervous Well, I am to be on liquids for 2 days. Right now, I don't feel like I have any restriction. Some of you have said it sneeks up on ya in a few days, so I will see what happens. I start some teacher inservice classes tomorrow, so I don't know how much I will get to visit and post during the school year. Junebies rock! It's great to hear how each of you are doing. Terry

Hmmm. Very interesting. It reminds me that salt will kill snails. Terry :Banane56:

There are several band doc's in the DFW - Texas area that charge around $15,000. This usually includes a year of fills and follow up care. Terry :Banane56:

Hang in there Sarabluebell. When I was turning 40, I tried hard to lose my excess weight and didn't. Now I'm 50 and just newly banded. I told my husband I wanted to be 10 years younger so I could forget the past 10 years. This will work, just hang in there. Terry :confused:

My surgeon also performs banding generally as an outpatient operation. I did do a fluro check just before I left to go home. Terry Dr. Adam Smith, Ft. Worth, Tx.

Too funny. Thanks for the observation! Terry :confused:

I've taken stuff like Prevacid and Nexium for years. I find I have not needed it post band. Keeping my fingers crossed! Terry :confused:

Roflol! that must be the princess n the p modified technique! I bet you would want more than one fill every 4 weeks!!! O.K. I think we changed the course of this thread. It started out so informative and scientific. sorry :confused: terry

I'm Blackspot Charity........ Just for the heck of it, I tried it with my maiden name...... It was Evil Ethel ............ roflol!!!!!!!!!! Sounds like something out of the comics. Terry

Melissa Lea - you said something about a pound of fat and a pound of muscle being still a pound. (O.K. I'm not trying to misquote you) I think what you need to realize is that a pound of muscle is SMALLER mass wise that a pound of fat. So, you can lose inches off your body and still weigh the same. As you get fit, it can be frustrating to not see the scale move, but you might notice that clothes get baggy and you feel better. Anyway that is how it has been explained to me. Terry :jaw:

I am a left side sleeper and that is where my port is. It took a few nights before I could sleep that way. So, I did a few nights sort of propped up on my back. Hubby and I had to switch sides of the bed too! lol It was easier for me to get up toward my right side. It all passes quickly, you will be fine. Terry

Good grief! What all do they make you go buy? Do you have to go buy those hospital footies ahead of time? Again I was just given a pair a the surgical center before my surgery. Well, I'm not trying to say it's bad or anything, just goes to show that each of us here has a little bit different experience with the whole process. Best wishes to you on your band journey and happy shopping!!!! Terry

Welcome 2bthin! You have come to the right place. I'm a new bandster myself. I applaud you in going to the gym! I'm pretty much just doing the walking thing right now - and waiting to get my first fill! Visit often - lots of fun folks here! Terry

I get uncomfortable when I eat too much. (lol, still learning to listen to my body) HMM.... Maybe the hernia has something to do with it. I'm sure more knowledgable (sp?) bandsters will join in. Are you sipping s l o w l y? Terry

Nancy, I really don't know what you should do. People will believe what they want. Even outrageous stuff when fact proves otherwise. (how else do those fantastic tabloids stay in business?) I have not read these particular posts. I'm a "small time" poster here, but I have always thought your posts were pretty much straight up and truthful with no malice. Just MHO. Terry

I don't know about pre-op, but I was given one post-op at the surgery center. It is just a little breathing tube that measures how well you can breathe out of your lungs. I understood that it was to "get you going" again after all the anesthetic, etc. Make sure you are breathing properly. I was told to just use it to measure my lung capacity a few times a day / for a few days after surgery. If you are required to buy your own, I sure would not spend a lot of money on one. Get the cheapest you can find. Heck, I'd find out why my surgery center isn't supplying me with one. Most hospital patients end up with one of these things after a hospital visit. It's like the required plastic hospital I.D. bracelet on your arm. lol Terry

Donna, thanks for the advise. I thought I was going blind!!!! Terry