Any banders from Va?? (Close to Richmond??)

I'm in Fredericksburg...just banded yesterday.

Congrats! I am in King George.

I live in Powhatan! I was banded 5/31 ... hows it going for you so far? Who was your surgeon?

I am from Powhatan, now living in King George. Had my surgery in Richmond.

I'm in San Antonio, Texas had my b*day June 18, 2012

I'm in Christiansburg VA

Hi everyone, I want to report on my appointment today. I ended up NOT getting a fill. The nutritionist asked me how much I was eating at each meal and I told her around a cup or less of food, mostly protein. I told her I feel full after such a meal as long as I eat slowly and chew, chew, chew. I also told her that I feel hungry again within an hour and a half. She pointed out that I had lost 13 pounds since my first post-op visit, am able to feel full (at least for a little while) on ony a cupful of food per meal and that I was not having any bad symptoms other than a couple of stuck episodes when I ate too fast or ate some steak sandwich. She and the PA thought that I am mostly in the green zone already, without any saline in my band. I was told that if I get hungry I should maybe have a protein-rich solid snack instead of the protein shake, about the size of a cheese stick. I found another lapband site called Banded Living where one of the cofounders lost 100 pounds with no fills ever. I have come to believe that what I thought was Bandster Hell turned out to be what restriction feels like. The pros recommended waiting for the first fill and I agreed since they've been through more of these things than I have. Besides, we're going away next week and my resources would be more limited should I have a problem with the newly-filled band. I was a little disappointed but I am trying to focus on my accomplishments thus far and downplay the hunger part. I recognize that I'm in a very small minority of bandsters who have restriction with no fills and feel very lucky for it. I didn't realize that what I am feeling is actually restriction. I go back in a month for an evaluation and we'll see if I need a fill then. Someone else posted that he was hungry after 3 and a half hours - I'm nowhere near there so I will probably opt for a fill next time, rather than have snacks between meals. Diets fail because you're hungry and don't feel full very long but if I can have healthy snacks maybe that doesn't matter so much. Sorry to be so rambling but this was either an A Ha moment or a Duh moment, I'm not sure which. How are you all doing?

Wow, you have nothing in your band? I have 2cc, I go tomorrow for my fill & am nervous because the Dr will be out of town afterwards so the nurse suggested a very very little fill for right now. I honestly don't think I need one, but I'm going to see the difference between 2cc & whatever they put in. I don't eat unless my stomach starts growling, like this morning I didn't eat til about 20min ago. I fond if I eat smaller meals through out the day, I lose weight & don't feel hungery. Most protein bars taste like crap, but I love the Atkins bars, less then 1g of sugar & 15-17mg of protein in one bar. Walmart is the cheapest place to find them, but I know up there a Safeway or giant are the closest to u. I've lost 6lb since my 2wk post op, which h is 3lb a week.. You're doing a fabulous job losing 13! Keep up the great work!

Lol I read the title of this post as "any Virgin Bandster". It piqued my interest. What does virginity and the lapband have in common...

Then I read posts from all the Virginia ppl...

I need a nap lol

Waiting in the Dr's office for my 1st fill, the nurse said I defiantly need one, as I gained 4lbs in 2days ( I was 304 on Tuesday, & blame the weight gain on my monthly friend lol) but I'm only "down" 2lbs since 2wks ago. I've been eating the right things. Hope this doesn't hurt, & hope I don't have any problems as my Dr is leaving for vacation!

Lol I read the title of this post as "any Virgin Bandster". It piqued my interest. What does virginity and the lapband have in common...

Then I read posts from all the Virginia ppl...

I need a nap lol

LOL that's funny

No fill for me today, I have to wait til the 17th of July. The Dr didn't like the way my incision was healing & removed my scab to look at it. Its not infected but it had a tiny bit of pus underneath the scab. *sigh*

Hi all. I am checking back in after a week in Massachusetts with family and a week of catching up at work. Went to my brother's house in the Berkshires for Fourth of July week, met family there. All were appropriately amazed at my smaller shape, even Mom! It was tough to keep to my plan on vacation - nobody wanted to eat on my schedule and I had to make some choices like having protein bars while driving. First day back the scale was the same as when I left so happy not to have lost ground. How's it going with you guys?

I live in Woodbridge and am scheduled to get banded tomorrow....at Fair Oaks Inova....by Dr. Halmi with Bluepoint Surgical

Hi Vahonie, I was originally signed up with Dr. Halmi but Dr. Moazzez had an opening sooner so I grabbed it. The staff at Fair Oaks was wonderful, they will treat you like a queen. I hope your procedure goes smoothly and your recovery does too. I had some pain with the bigger incision they make for the port but the laparascopic ones never bothered me a bit; hopefully your experience will be the same. Keep us posted!

Hi RockieBarbie09, How did your appointment go yesterday? Did you get your fill at last? I hope your healing has progressed. I go next Tuesday to see if I can get a fill. I think I need one but we'll see how it goes.

Hi Vahonie' date=' I was originally signed up with Dr. Halmi but Dr. Moazzez had an opening sooner so I grabbed it. The staff at Fair Oaks was wonderful, they will treat you like a queen. I hope your procedure goes smoothly and your recovery does too. I had some pain with the bigger incision they make for the port but the laparascopic ones never bothered me a bit; hopefully your experience will be the same. Keep us posted![/quote']

The staff at Fair Oaks did treat me like a queen and I truly adore Dr. Halmi. The most pain is due to the Hernia repair.

I've been walking a lot and following the diet regimen so..so far so good