Well Hello,

I am losin and lovin and that is what I am doing. I ma going to be 52 next month. So far I have gone from a size 28 to a 16/18. I recently had a set back because of stress from a divorce. I am back on track and ready to move forward. I would like to be further along my but surgeon says life happens and when it does it takes a toll on every part of your bodies including our band. IT DID!!! I have been banded for coming up to 2 years. My wonderful surgeon was (and is) Richard Collier in Conroe Texas. I would highly recommend him. If you are not in that area and are looking for a surgeon I can recommend going to local hospitals and ask around to see who has the best care. I asked who the nurses liked to work with, what the nurses thought of the doctors bed side manners and after care. I was not only told who to go to but who not to go to. Once in the wiating area for surgery nurses were discussing who was going in next and for what and what needed to be done to prep them. The common comment was "That is Collier's, she needs nothing from us". When I quesitoned why, they all assured me he is the best prepared and the best at preparing his patients. So research your surgeon. Visit with him several times before the procedure. I got the best and after all this time, he and his staff are so extremely helpful. I have been very active as a motivator on another site Journey Lite, however it has gone to just three or four of us that will comment. Many will view not many will comment. So I am looking for some action so to speak. I love my band and what it has given to me and I love to share it with people so if you have ANY questions, I will be happy to chat with you. It has changed my life, my health and my personality. All in good ways. I also write a weekly motivational email for a Weight Watchers group at work. I am not a member, but I am the coordinator. I will encourage anyone with a need to lose weight. If I can say something to help them on their journey I will. I would love to help people before they get to the point I did where surgery was my only option. I will warn you, I am wordy when it comes to things I believe in and I do believe in the lap band. I also am writing a book about my journey, so some of what I will post will be from that as well. So this is me, I am glad to make some new friends. I will be a faithful poster and responder so let's get started.

Your story sounds great. I heard about other people who failed with lap band. I decided to do it and I am so scared but happy at the same time. I really need this to be done, well as all of us, I have Dr appt tomorrow just the first appt....... hope this will done soon. I heard about gastric plication surgery and I am very interested but I dont think the dr I will see can do it. I heard very good comments about this dr, it is in Raleigh NC but I dont have nobody who have it done there...... I really need help and support, hope we can talk about it. Thanks a lot.

Well Hello,

I am losin and lovin and that is what I am doing. I ma going to be 52 next month. So far I have gone from a size 28 to a 16/18. I recently had a set back because of stress from a divorce. I am back on track and ready to move forward. I would like to be further along my but surgeon says life happens and when it does it takes a toll on every part of your bodies including our band. IT DID!!! I have been banded for coming up to 2 years. My wonderful surgeon was (and is) Richard Collier in Conroe Texas. I would highly recommend him. If you are not in that area and are looking for a surgeon I can recommend going to local hospitals and ask around to see who has the best care. I asked who the nurses liked to work with, what the nurses thought of the doctors bed side manners and after care. I was not only told who to go to but who not to go to. Once in the wiating area for surgery nurses were discussing who was going in next and for what and what needed to be done to prep them. The common comment was "That is Collier's, she needs nothing from us". When I quesitoned why, they all assured me he is the best prepared and the best at preparing his patients. So research your surgeon. Visit with him several times before the procedure. I got the best and after all this time, he and his staff are so extremely helpful. I have been very active as a motivator on another site Journey Lite, however it has gone to just three or four of us that will comment. Many will view not many will comment. So I am looking for some action so to speak. I love my band and what it has given to me and I love to share it with people so if you have ANY questions, I will be happy to chat with you. It has changed my life, my health and my personality. All in good ways. I also write a weekly motivational email for a Weight Watchers group at work. I am not a member, but I am the coordinator. I will encourage anyone with a need to lose weight. If I can say something to help them on their journey I will. I would love to help people before they get to the point I did where surgery was my only option. I will warn you, I am wordy when it comes to things I believe in and I do believe in the lap band. I also am writing a book about my journey, so some of what I will post will be from that as well. So this is me, I am glad to make some new friends. I will be a faithful poster and responder so let's get started.

I don't think there's alot that post here either. I placed a few post here and got alot of viewer but no reply...Kinda suxs....I'm having my lap band on May 3rd am on my pre op diet, no clue of am doing it right.....My Dr. is Richard Wilkenfield in the Woodlands TX. He seems very nice. Well welcome back losin and lovin....

Hey good luck with the procedure. Wow taht is soon, and I am sure you are excited. Please feel free to ask any questions. It is the best decision you can make. Before my suregery I read everything on these type message boards I could find. There is only so much your doctor can tell you. These are a wealth of great information. Please post once you are able after surgery. You will have tons of questions so ask away. My surgery and the days following were nothing compared to what I imagined it would be. What are your concerns about the pre-op diet.

What hospital will you have the procedure done in? My doctor was Richard Collier in Conroe and he was awesome and the hospital staff loved him. I am sure your procedure will go well. I am so grateful this is not major surgery and so much easier to get over. Please let me know if there is anything I can do to help ease concerns or answer questions. I do NOT know it all, but I know about mine.

I hope to hear from you soon.

People tend to forget this is just a tool, but one that will work. I have two family members that did not stick with the band. It does require follow up, it does require effort. It is not magic and you have to work at it. But that said, if you do those things, IT IS SO WORTH IT. I will never forget walking out of my first meeting and thinking THERE IS HOPE STILL. I thought it was to late, I was to far gone, I could not do it with any Weight Loss Programs (I tired most of them out there). it was seeing the Lap Band as my hope that continues to give me the determination I need to go on. I strongly suggest to every one that before surgery take your measuerments. The times that you may not lose a lot of pounds, the inches are dropping off, so take and monitor your measurements. I measure 1 time a month and I have a log that I am keeping. I write if I had a bad month or good month and why. I usually always know if I did not lose much the reason for it. Follow the doctors orders to a T and you will be thrilled with your decision to do this.

I wish you tons of luck and please let me know what I can do to help.

I am so grateful for the help I had on message boards that I am committed to help others. So I am here and I will only tell you what I know to be true for my journey. SO LET'S DO THIS!!

Well Hello,

I am losin and lovin and that is what I am doing. I ma going to be 52 next month. So far I have gone from a size 28 to a 16/18. I recently had a set back because of stress from a divorce. I am back on track and ready to move forward. I would like to be further along my but surgeon says life happens and when it does it takes a toll on every part of your bodies including our band. IT DID!!! I have been banded for coming up to 2 years. My wonderful surgeon was (and is) Richard Collier in Conroe Texas. I would highly recommend him. If you are not in that area and are looking for a surgeon I can recommend going to local hospitals and ask around to see who has the best care. I asked who the nurses liked to work with, what the nurses thought of the doctors bed side manners and after care. I was not only told who to go to but who not to go to. Once in the wiating area for surgery nurses were discussing who was going in next and for what and what needed to be done to prep them. The common comment was "That is Collier's, she needs nothing from us". When I quesitoned why, they all assured me he is the best prepared and the best at preparing his patients. So research your surgeon. Visit with him several times before the procedure. I got the best and after all this time, he and his staff are so extremely helpful. I have been very active as a motivator on another site Journey Lite, however it has gone to just three or four of us that will comment. Many will view not many will comment. So I am looking for some action so to speak. I love my band and what it has given to me and I love to share it with people so if you have ANY questions, I will be happy to chat with you. It has changed my life, my health and my personality. All in good ways. I also write a weekly motivational email for a Weight Watchers group at work. I am not a member, but I am the coordinator. I will encourage anyone with a need to lose weight. If I can say something to help them on their journey I will. I would love to help people before they get to the point I did where surgery was my only option. I will warn you, I am wordy when it comes to things I believe in and I do believe in the lap band. I also am writing a book about my journey, so some of what I will post will be from that as well. So this is me, I am glad to make some new friends. I will be a faithful poster and responder so let's get started.

i need all the help that i can get.i had an unfill a week ago and had to have a fluro upper gi.now i have to wai 2-3 weeks to get a fill this is going to be so hard

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