I would like to hear from some Texarkana Bandsters about their experiences. re: doctors, pre and post surgery, and how things are going for them now. I am considering the lap band.

lo2us you will be fine in sweats. i finally have 3 pair of capris that fit. i was down to 1 pair for a while. it's nice to have a different set to wear now! i'm sure not gonna go out and buy any more clothes.

Hi Lo2us, Don't sweat it! (pun intended, haha). I had my surgery on a Wed. and was at the meeting on Mon. too. I will try to do better looking for you this time. I usually sit toward the front because I have a hard time hearing Ms. Betty, and sometimes Amy too. Especially without a microphone. I plan on being there too. My husband usually drives me over and drops me off. I don't always make it but I try to go a little early so if I have any questions I can ask around. Looking forward to seeing you. How is the battle of the gas comming? just keep moving all you can. Did you find out what size band you had? I go Tues. a.m. for a fill, they had to reschedule. That's okay, Mon. a.m. is a busy time for me. See ya tomorrow night.

Hello Priss! We have been missing you. Hope you are doing alright. Hope to see you at the meeting too. Take care.

Woohoo! Called the nurse this morning and told her about the trouble I was having with those stupid stockings and she told me I could take them off as long as I walked! I feel almost normal again! She and Amy both told me I could use another type of protein shake with more protein in it since I'm not holding all 3 slim fasts. I found myoplex which has 42 grams per shake! I'know I'll be feeling good soon with out feeling so full all the time. I'll see y'all tonight, and I won't have to wear sweats now! YAY!

awwwww, I thought you liked the pretty white stockings. Personally, I wanted to chunk them the first day. But, I did wear them almost 2 weeks. Man, your ticker is really moving. Good for you. I knew you would do well.

Sugarbear, how did your fill go today? I wish I had tried to work something out for this week, but I will be ok till the 19th. I don't think it will make much difference anyway. Still not loosing.

Yall have a good meeting tonite!

lisa

They called and rescheduled it until tomorrow a.m. (Tuesday). I am glad I could do it this week. I get so darn hungry and know I eat too much. My friend can barely eat 1/2 of a hamburger, I can eat a whole one without any problem whatsoever, and something to go with it. Of course i used to could eat more than that. So I know I must have some restriction or I wouldn't get full on that. Just not near enough. I know I have to work at it too, but that is the part of the band I need to work for me. My friend was the same way but now she can't eat that much. The band has been a wonderful portion control tool for her. That's where I need to to get to. Well, gotta get headed to my meeting. Later.

Hello Sugarbear,

I was banded on 4/6/07..had my first fill on 5/17/07 and will have the second fill on 7/2/07.....

I have lost 34 lbs total....I think after tonights support group meeting, I will be able to step up my pace and get some more weight off...I am going to start walking lots more....Hope I remember to wear the pedometer....I guess that will take some getting use to....

I weighed after my shower tonight and have lost another lb, but I'm going to wait a couple days before moving that ticker since I've figured out how to get enough protein now!

I was glad to see you guys at the meeting. I feel like it will help to have someone to look forward to seeing each month. Priss were you there?

I'm a little sore tonight so I guess I'll get some meds and off to bed. Hang in there everone!

Hello ladies...just checking in with all of you...

Sounds like all of you are doing so well...very proud of each one of you and your successes...

Still having quite a bit of restriction...but, I seem to stay hungry all the time...I am wondering if it is because I really can't eat much when I do eat...Do you guys try to stay with the three meals a day or do you eat several small meals?...Right now, I can only eat about 3-4 bites at a meal and that is all...I just about can't get that down either...I also don't think I am drinking enough, so that may be why I feel hungry more often...Also, I don't think I am doing as well being at home over the summer break...at least at school, I didn't have access to the refrigerator or the cabinets, so I didn't have the munchies as much...sure has been hard to stay away from them being at home all day...

Anyway...finished with Softball...Beth played ball till 3:30 A.M Sunday Morning...Talk about some tired girls (ages 10-12)...Our team made it to the finals, but lost by 1 run...then, because we had not lost yet (double elimination), we had to turn around a play the team again...they beat us 16-2 then...Our girls just couldn't go anymore...plus the pitcher hurt her foot really bad, so that didn't help either...

I will be out all week next week...have a Great Expectations conference to go to in OKC all week, so it will be a while before I can get back on...I will take my laptop and maybe I can get on in the motel...

Billy is doing good, kind of on a plateau right now with HIS losing...but still doing good...

We all ought to think about setting a group goal (either a weekly goal or monthly goal) that we can all work toward...what do you guys think? Just a suggestion...I seem to work harder if I know I am being held accountable to my peers for it...Think about it and let me know>>>

Hello all. Enjoyed the meeting last night. Lo2us and I sat together. She attended the meeting only 5 days post-op. Good for her!! Yes it will be nice to look forward to seeing each other every month. Everyone seems very nice. We all recieved a pedometer, forgot to put mine on this a.m. I will try to do better tomorrow.

I got a fill this a.m. So, I am on liquids the rest of the day and mushies tomorrow. I recieved .5 cc. I saw Dr. H this time, I was a little nervous, I have only met him once for a couple of minutes. He was very nice to me. He has a little different way of doing the fill but it was fine. Not painful or anything. I'm a big sissy about needles. Had my cracker and Water, everything went down fine.

Vlynn, glad things are going well with you and Billy. I know you were all exhausted after the ball game! That is entirely to late!! The goal thing sounds good. I think we all do better when we have to be held accountable. It might give some of us that extra push we need sometimes. Everyone take care!

Hey everyone...just wanted to touch base and find out some things. I haven't got banded yet, but after some talk with a friend I'm seriouly considering it. My friend refered me to Drs. Keilin and Hekier. How much pain, what to expect afterwards, what do I need to know before pre-op, etc, etc. Thanks

Welcome TX Hogwild. I'm 7 days post op and to be frank, I'm really suprised at how little pain there's been. I'm already starting to clean house, though I'm still taking it easy. This is a fantastic site to learn all about lapband and the ladies in this thread will let you all in on it. If you have an questions, just ask! Dr. Hekier did my surgery. Try going to one of the seminars. Both surgeons have a website at Lap Band Surgery Texarkana- Serving Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana and you can find out when the next seminar is.

I'm glad to hear about the pain issue. What about the port? Are you able to see it, feel it? Where is a seminar located, time, sign up? Well, hope you ladies can put up with all my questions. Just a guy needing guidance. Thanks.

Welcome TX Hogwild. Let me see if I can help out. Pre-op. First read all you can on the precedure itself, to make sure that is what you want to do. It isn't a difficult surgery for the patient. It is the easiest surgery I personally have ever had, and I have had a few. Not wanting to borrow trouble, but there is always a risk doing any surgery. The hardest thing for me personally, was the pre-op diet (2 weeks). Mostly liquid. Dr. Heiker/Keilin have a seminar at Wadley that is very informative about the surgery. You can ask questions at the end of the meeting. I went and found it very helpful. As far as pain goes, I never had any severe pain. Mostly discomfort from the air they put in your abdomen to do the surgery, which plenty of walking gets rid of, about a week of being sore, maybe less. All in all it is astonishing easy. I would guess the general health of a patient would have some bearing on your recovery also. I was in pretty good general health.

There is a seminar at Wadley Hospital June 14th and another on the 21rst at 7:00 p.m. Also there are support group meetings the second mon. every month in Texarkana at the YWCA at 7:00 p.m. These times and meeting are posted at noscales.com. The seminars and support meetings are free and I think you would get good info at them. The staff at Precision are great to talk to also. At the seminar they will give you a packet of good information, prices and what is required pre- surgery. Like getting a sleep study or maybe a psych evaluation. Many insurances require it. Hope this has helped you. Please feel feel free to ask any questions. This site is a great support. Just a big family. Take care.

lo2us. Well it has been a week today! How is the post-op diet comming? You have done so great so far! Every day just gets better doesn't it? One more week and you will be to mushies! Even though I am a slow loser I love stepping on the scale knowing I will never see that number I had the first time I weighed in. My blood pressure is getting better too. I am hoping to shed my meds for that this year. I have already shed one med I was taking. WOOHOO! Take care, talk to you later.