Hi All,

I'm just starting the whole process of applying for the lap band at BIDMC. I was wondering if people could give me feedback on their experience, both good and bad (if applicable). Also, which doctor did you use? I'm not sure which doctor I would like to request.

Thanks!

hi gals! happy halloween!

things are busy so i have been lax in my reading and postings. i have been struggling with my wt loss or lack thereof...i also amhaving lots of trouble eating at lunch so i need help. i usu have a protein shake for breakfast, i haven't been so good with drinking as much as i should but usu can finish at least 1 bottle of water each morning. my lunch usu ends up with heartburn, that tight feeling and i can only eat 1-4 bites then i hurt like hell. i just emailed angi if she's still there. i wonder if my fill is too tight. because of it i am eating too much at night cuz i'm starving by then. anyway i needed to vent. thanks guys!

Dez sorry to hear you've been having a rough time. Angie is gone, sniff sniff, but still here with us in spirit. I would call the office and talk to someone. I'm no expert, but if you're having trouble getting more than 4 bites down then you may need a slight unfill. Please give them a call and let us know what they say.

Hey Rainbow -- how are you??!! I hope all is well.

Nana - how are things going with the process? Where are you at?

Sherry - you know I love ya babe! Keep up the good work!!

So I just finished my first full week of mushies. Life is good. lol. I've been able to stick to a 1200 +/- diet, but my scale did not move this week. I know it's totally normal so I'm trying not to fuss over it. I did have a bit of chocolate today and yesterday. Grrrr... I've still been sticking within my calories, but I wish I was stronger and could have said no. Baby steps I guess. lol. I would love to shake these last two pounds so I can make it into the 240's. Hopefully I'll get there this week!

Sherry and I are going to start taking a Country Line Dance class together on Tuesday nights starting next week. It should be a blast and will be a good 1 1/2 - 2 hrs of exercise. We then promised each other we'd at least do one more night of exercise each week. Baby steps with the exercise too. lol.

Well I hope everyone is doing well!

Hi all,

Sounds like everyone is doing well except dez. Definitely call and see if you need an unfill. I hate to think what you are feeling is normal. Also, I have a question. The diet seems to include so much protien. Do you girls not have cereal in the AM? You seem to have protien. I have an appt. finally with a hematologist Nov. 14th., and for a stress test on Nov. 10th, in the meantime I am feeling tired and haven't done much. It seems like it took forever to get appts., so I am just waiting. That is all from me. I hope you feel better dez, and everyone else keep up the good work. Oh, by the way, I am going to be dog sitting (2 dogs, my grandpuppies) starting next Monday. I am excited, but they will wear me out!!

Nana

hi guys! my tummy is weird~today i had no prob with lunch, 2 pieces of a quesidilla or however you spell it!!! still in a rut re wt loss but 1 lb down this week after no change for weeks funny since a boatload of halloween candy has been around the office.

have fun line dancing chris and sherry - i wish y'all lived in my area of town as i lived in ky for several years and love to line dance! i suck but it's fun!

nana - yes! protein, protein, protein! i have never been much of a breakfast person so i just have a protein shake every am, i hate breakfast. also, as you know eating in the am seems to be hard for me. i may have yogurt occas and i LOVE oatmeal, esp now that its cold. i had my first bowl of cereal post sx last week, i actually was thinking about how we don't mix liquids with food and cereal does just that so maybe when i go back in dec i will ask june. good luck with the dog sitting! tak about exer!

hugs to all

dez

hi folks

dez,chris,sherry and nana

hope all is well , i am back on shift need a vacation from my vacation.

i have been busy working on finishing the basement. not a great work out but it has kept me off the couch.

looks like i am still losing weight with the halloween candy around lol

we did not get as many kids as last year, but here in palmer the time to trick or treat was 4pm to 6pm

well gotta go back to the basement, its taking a long time to build rome lol

deb

Does anyone have an email contact for someone at BIDMC to be reached with questions? You know like we used to do with Angi? I'm in a cubicle at work with no privacy and I'd like to email a question.

Be back tonight to write more. Thank you for your help!

msheppar@bidmc.harvard.edu

this is michelle's.........sometimes it takes her time to get back thru e mail

she is sometimes swamped

deb

ps

michelle only works tues, wed and thur

pss

on our paper work from the nutriton she has her e mail

kboyer@bidmc.harvard.edu

and

jskoropo@harvard.edu

Thank you so much everyone. I was at work and didn't have my paperwork available. I wrote to Michelle to let her know whats going on so when she has time I'm sure she'll write back. I'm sure it's nothing but, I just want to make sure. I've had a wicked sour/acidy stomach for the past 2 weeks. Its off and on but, mostly at night and that drives me buggy.

hi everyone! hows it goin? eating is getting a bit better and i am down 1.5 lbs so maybe the plateau is off now...i hope so! my goal at my last check up in sept was 20 lbs by thanksgiving and ther is no way that will happen so maybe 10-15 by my next appt the first wk of dec. when are we going to get together? i think before christmas would be great. any ideas? is boston central? is anyone going to the support mtg next week? i might it depends i am supposed to go out in somerville with friends.

keep on losing!

dez

Hey Dez! Great to hear from you. Glad the scale has started to move for you again. It gets frustrating when it doesn't, that's for sure!

I'm feeling good and looking forward to my first fill. I get that fill the Wed after Thanksgiving - perfect timing if you ask me. Late enough that I'll be able to enjoy a bit of stuffing at thanksgiving, but early enough to get me through the Holidays!

Sherry and I started taking country line dancing classes together on Tuesday nights. It's a lot of fun and good exercise. I've got to get that exercise piece in gear!

I'm game for meeting up! Who else is interested??

(raising hand) " I am in if it does not land on work time" I can stay over night at michelle's if it lands on day off.

Hey chris my next appt is the 29th at 1 pm but i ussually go in early to have lunch with michelle if she is not swamped.

If Dr, Jones is not going to be there i might cancel........maybe

I do not want a fill, its been uncomfortable to eat and I have been losing

so far, i want to talk to him to see if its normal. i fell the pressure of food passing the band. Of course i have not problem eating a choc. bar (haha)

maybe sherry or dez can answer that?

hey nana

well off to work

deb

Hey Rainbow, I can't say that I've felt pressure of the food passing the band...its more like the pressure of too much food in there. Are you chewing well enough and making sure your food is moist enough?

Chrispy - I'm ready to Casa Nova again hahaha. How the heck that is country dancin is beyond me but, it's fun and I'll do it. Looks like I'm in my sneakers again. Can't really find any shoes that are a little more slippery but comfy. Oh well...I'm going though. I'd like to go earlier this time so may we can learn some on our own.

Oh the answer to my heartburn/acidy/sour stomach was for me to make sure I'm chew chew chewin, not drinking with my meals and not eating too much. Ummmm I think I'm doing what I'm suppose to. I think I need to track things to see if it's just my food choices or something. EH I'll get there. The dang scale went up 2 pounds from who knows where and I can't seem to get rid of it. I didn't move my ticker back because I just refuse to hahaha. I joined a gym with hubby...we went and checked it out today and we're going to go Thursday. Already I have plans for Tuesday and Wednesday but, it's things I love to do so I'm doing them. Hubby is going to the gym Wed so I'll let him break it in lol. I'm going dancin with Chrispy Tuesday and I have Reiki on Wednesday...full schedule

Deb I have a 1:30 appt w/Dr Jones on the 29th!!! Looks like we will be able to meet! I am so excited!!

If you're still losing with no fill - good for you! Especially if you're feeling restriction. Go with it!