Hello all. I'm Juli. I am 5'9, my current weight is 245 and my BMI is 36.2. As an elementary music teacher, I am looking forward to having more energy and less injury with my students.

It's been three years since I first attended a weight-loss seminar and the "beginning" is finally in sight. Originally, I went through all the lab-work, psych consult, supervised diet for 3 months, and was ready to submit everything to insurance for approval. Then, one roadblock after another found its way in front of me... 3 surgeries followed by my mother's diagnoses and death from cancer. Now, finally after redoing psych visit, lab work, nutritional consult, and sleep study, I was approved by BCBS of Texas on the first try! (TRS Active Care).

My Surgeon is Dr. Todd Wilson of MIST Houston. The pre-op is August 24th and my surgery will be on August 29th, 2012. The surgery will be at Memorial Hermann Hospital in Houston.

Best of luck!!

Good luck Juli! Your surgery is the day before mine!

Good luck Juli! mine is 9/10/2012

I'm getting banded 9/4....I'm super excited for this chapter of my life

Hi Juli, I'm in Houston too. I got banded on 8/1/12. Your gonna love it! I hope you have as easy a time as I have. I am just a little over 2 weeks post op and feeling great!

Hi Lucie,

Are you able to go back to work yet? I'm really anxious about the timing of my surgery... two days after school starts. Did you have shoulder pain? I had my gallbladder out last year and my shoulder hurt really bad afterwards. I've heard there might be similar pain with the banding.

Oh wow Juli you have had a rough 3 years. Sorry about your mom, but now its your time to be the star and shine your way to a smooth healthy life. Congrats

Aw, thank you Slim&Sexy. You made me smile. Juli

Juli, sorry for your loss. Happy to here you are moving forward with your band. This is the time for you. Good luck and I wish you a speedy recovery. Keep us updated. Take care.

Thank you. I will.

I did go back to work, I drive for Metro, so I took just a little more then a week off of work, I didn't know how the bouncing in the bus seat was gonna effect me, but I didn't want to take off more then the sick days I had accumulated. It was only troublesome the first 2 days maybe, then I was fine. I didn't have the shoulder pain, thank goodness, but I did have a pain when I took a deep breath right around my left lung under my ribs, but it only lasted a few days and I was fine. The problem I am having now, and I guess its not really a problem, is that I am more hungry. The swelling has gone down and I am in that stage where I still have two more weeks till my first fill, and my mind is freaking out cause I feel like I am gonna eat and gain back the 20 lbs I lost before they get in there and fill me up again!! haha.. Its in my head though, I am still just eating jello, and soup and protein shakes, but my stomach is growling more now. Keep in touch with me when you want. It would be nice to have someone right here in Houston to talk to.

How was your day? Is your stomach still growling? Those two weeks will go fast. You're doing so great having lost 20 lbs.!

I have a question... Do they put the port on a specific side? Is it always on the left or right? Just curious... and clueless.

Mine is right in the middle. High, right below the ribs. I think it depends on your Dr. though. That is where most of my pain is though. Cause the incision is about twice as long as the other incisions. There are 5 altogether.

you will gain someweightback once on solids and its ok its normal pain in theshoulders is only when iover eat my first fill is tuesday

Hi Julie. Welcome aboard.

I was banded wends the 15th ofAug. So a couple days out and I'm doing pretty well. My doc always put the port on the right side (95%) I asked that question rminutes before my surg for done reason. Lol and that's where my 'pain' comes from. It just a kind of soreness really. Some gas too, which I started gas x melt away strips and feel pretty good with. I'm not even interested in food at this point and getting a nice amt of protein drinks, water, little decaff, jello, & broth. good luck on ur journey and keep us posted!