PrincessErin

I was banded on 03/23/11. I've had a very interesting journey, it's been difficult at times but I do not regret it one little bit! In May, I had to have my port removed due to a staph infection that I contracted in office when My Dr tried to drain a very large, painful seroma that had developed over my port area. I had to have an endoscopy to ensure that the band was not infected or slipped, and then the port had to be removed. After that, I went home from the hospital with a PICC line and a wound vac for a month. That was NOT easy. A PICC line can be very taxing emotionally, and the wound vac is just gross. It all ended fine and in July I received my brand new port on the other side of my stomach. Since March 23, I have lost 52.8 pounds. Mostly with no fill, due to all the drama with not having a port, etc. Right now I have 3CC's in my band and I am comfortable with that amount. I have the non Lap Band version of the band. I can never remember the name and I don't think it really matters. I swim and I bike. I do not kill myself but I stay very active. I would like to step it up now that life has been rebalanced and join a gym. (I just went through a divorce AND I lost my job all at the same time that I was so sick with the staph infection! It was a crazy summer!!!) I love to exercise and I love to be active. I don't know how to answer the "do you eat properly" question. Yes, I chew my food very slowly and I do not eat more than 1 cup of food at a time. A lot of people have a lot of opinions about what is proper on this board - I would say I fall in the middle. I am not a hardcore dieter. I let myself enjoy tasty food - but I don't and can't enjoy very much of it at a time. A typical day for me is: Iced coffee in the morning (yes, caffeine in the form of coffee) 100 calories with the creamer I use I can't eat very much in the AM due to tightness in the band and I've learned not to bother trying. lunch - now that I'm working, this is the most difficult for me - I hate fast food, I can't eat it but I feel forced because it's 1. the only thing available and 2. gets me out of the office for an hour. I normally have a piece of chicken from somewhere and Water. Sometimes this chicken is fried. Sometimes it isn't. I can't eat a hamburger or fries or anything like that. It gets stuck. Sometimes, I have a peice of candy in the afternoon. As in 1 mini peice of candy. This is so bizzare to me because I used to eat king sized candy bars like it was a snack. Speaking of portion sizes, how many of you order a kid's meal at a restaurant and think it's too much food?? Can you believe we feed our tiny children this much food?? Can you believe that at one point I would have thought you were crazy if you told me that a kid's meal was more than enough food for an adult!??! I have friends who are raw vegans, and I buy my afternoon Snacks from them. Usually, it's something cleverly disguised as something else. dinner is whatever I cook for my family. I have learned how much and what I can eat of what I cook. For instance, last night I made Pasta Fajole and garlic bread. I didn't even bother with the bread but I did enjoy the Soup with no issues. I had about 3/4 of a cup of the soup. I generally eat 3-4 times a day, including the coffee and including the snack. I don't pick the best choices for lunch and I think this is why my weight loss hasn't been faster. I don't regret any part of my band but sometimes, especially when I'm REALLY HUNGRY and then I can eat like 4 bites - I get kind of frustrated. Old habits...

Congrats!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I totally think it improves sex life. I love how much better everything is - and it's all about 'the fit' and also, stamina!! I don't get winded when things get 'crazy' I've always loved sex with my husband but now it's even better. I can't wait to see how good it's gonna get!

I love how people from Texas are like I'm from TEXAS!! It really must be the coolest state, ever! <3 I think us March Bandsters have this!! Don't you? WE're so gonna rock it!

I just wanted to say that I love Chocolate!!! Good luck on your second time around with your journey! I think you're gonna be a super star!

They are the best, ever, aren't they!? I love my dachshunds. The one I was closest to passed away last October and I just haven't been the same since. It was like losing a child and yes, I have children! They are just so sweet and baby-like! <3 It's very nice to meet you!

I'm Erin! I'm 33 and I'm married with 3 children, ages 16, 14 and 7. I am married to my high school sweetheart (but we didn't get married until 2003!) We have amazing two dachshunds and until recently we had a chinchilla but she passed away. I am the Membership Director/Director On Duty of our local YMCA. I love my job! We are a service branch and I feel blessed and lucky to be in a job where I get to help people every single day! My teenagers keep me busy. This is the first year in a very long time that I haven't coached Pop Warner cheerleading (my daughter will be cheering for the high school this next football season!) and I also coach a swim team in the summer. Sometimes, I help coach beginner gymnastics for fun. The Y keeps our family busy and active but that hasn't stopped me from battling my weight. I grew up skinny but since I've been an adult, I've battled and battled and battled until finally I decided I wasn't going to battle it by myself any more! This is why I chose lapband. I feel confident that it's going to be my safety net and catch me when I begin to fall and start making bad food choices. I just recently was banded in March but I already can tell that the changes I'm making will last a lifetime! We live in Sunny Florida, so I just got home from the beach with my girls and my older daughter's best friend. We had a blast! I love living in Florida. I love going to the beach and my other TRUE obsession is DISNEY! I love theme parks and the Disney parks are a definite favorite and very special to my whole family. I also play the piano and LOVE LOVE LOVE music. I have 5 piercings and 2 tattoos. I used to have 9 piercings but I needed to present a more professional image at work and took out the visible ones! I also ride a little scooter and I LOVE it. My husband thinks I need a motorcycle like him, but I'm more of a scooter princess. It's a lifestyle, I swear it! I am also obsessed with Facebook so if you like it, too - feel free to add me! www.facebook.com/scooterprincess or erinjoleen@hotmail.com That's basically me! I look forward to getting to know you guys. It really helps to know other people who are experiencing the same journey! It makes me feel less crazy

Bahahaha!

Heeeeeeeeeeeey, everyone! I had my wound check/2 week appointment today! My Dr said I will be a "super star" with the band! He is pleased with my progress so far and I am, too! I am down 24 pounds since I began my preop diet, 9 since surgery. I am so pleased with the results this far. I do get hungry but I am satisfied very easily. I do not have any Fluid in my band. I am having a hard time battling head hunger but I am not losing this battle! I did not go through all this to fail. Next week I can start adding in more foods. I can't wait! I am sick of soup and liquids! I am having a hard time wrapping my head around thinking LESS liquidy foods (sliders) and going more for ACTUAL food - because for the past 2 weeks (and even before surgery) it's been ALL about the liquids! I hope everyone is hanging in there and doing well! I love my band!

Less than a week before we had the sex. 3 days before whatever you want to call it.

Yeah, I totally stress this and I haven't even had a fill. I guess it's part of the 'too good to be true' syndrome. I am just waiting for what might go wrong subconsciously.

I have 9 piercings and the only one that has ever closed up SUPER quickly on me is the lip ring. if you've had your tongue ring for any amount of time (longer than a year), it will survive the morning of surgery. You'll be able to put it in later that afternoon. You'll be fine.

I can't burp anymore!

I'm 5'3". My ideal weight is somewhere between 105-140, I think. (I had a hard time figuring it out) My goal weight is 140. I weighed 115 in high school and went up and down from 150-180 for a lot of my adult life. I would be THRILLED to weigh 140! I was just banded on 03/23. I can't wait to see where I go from here.

My surgery was also 3/23! I was very sore when I woke up and I've had a small amount of gas pain - nothing too bad. The port incision is VERY sore. I overdid it today (shopping with my teenage daughter for a dress for a dance) and I am feeling it right now. Still not hungry. I am a little in awe that the last time I ate was Tuesday afternoon and here it is - Friday night - and NOTHING. I am having a hard time getting in my required amount of clear liquids! How are you two doing?

I have one and it makes the shakes livable and it's VERY easy to use!

Thanks, RennieMom!! :c)

My doctor just submitted everything to my surgeon's office today! I don't know how long it will take them to submit to the insurance company or how long it takes to hear about an approval. I'm hoping to find something out by the end of the month!! Good luck to you! Let me know what you hear!

Good luck to you, too!! Did you get approved yet? My doctor is really thorough and we are just now at the point where he is writing his letter of necessity. He was supposed to write it over the weekend so his office should be faxing it sometime this week. I am excited and hoping to hear about an approval sometime next week or the week after. I hope you're doing well!

Hah!!! This is so funny! It's late and I'm laughing too loudly! Great post!

I'm sort of new here and I'M sure I've asked questions others have asked (and yes, I actually DO understand how to use the search function). The overall tone of this post is sort of rude. It's certainly not going to be a go-to "band bible" I'll ever use. I've tried to read it twice and it just makes me feel sort of dumb for wondering about anything band-related at all. Just my opinion. :c)

I'm waiting for my insurance approval and date! I've jumped through all sorts of hoops and my Dr thinks I'll have no issues getting approved, so now it's just waiting. I am expecting a date towards the end of February.

I'm in North Central Florida - in Crescent City, Fl. I am about 2 hours north of Orlando and 1 hour south of St. Augustine. I'm 33, married 8 years and mother of 3 children!

Hey, outside! How is the bile/tummy issue going??? Has a Dr figured it out yet?

Here I am! http://catchasunnyday.blogspot.com I'm just getting started in my process but I look forward to being on the journey with you guys!