I have come to discover that there are a lot of us Southern Marylanders here.....all of whom have to travel out of our comfort zone, and up into DC or Northern VA for LapBand stuff. I'm curious to know how many of us there are. I have already heard from two others. Neat! Please write if you're one of us! Thanks, BJ

Chanda,

Yes I can eat but keep in mind my plate looks like I am fixing a toddlers plate. My portions are very very small but I get full and am satisfied. I guess that is why I am able to lose. Now if I ramped up my exercise I would really probably lose some pounds.

I am about 5'8" and what your mama calls "Big Boned". So my goal is to get under 200. Anything beyond that, you will find me kissing a mirror somewhere. And kissing the scale too for that matter......

Ok. I will check on the EKG, but I understand now.

Are you joking about the sandwich deal? That's unbelievable for us who don't know what it feels like to have band! No wonder you may be in a bikini before the summer is out (smiles)...

I am loving the fact that you are already getting what I call "Out of the box" results from your band. Maybe Dr. Brody will say you don't even need an adjustment??? BTW, are your fills covered by your insurance???

Yeah...I think that I'm in that "big boned" category myself. Everyone says that I don't look like what the scale says.

Anyway...it's really weird because some folks feel no restrictions without getting fills, but I do. I have talked to someone else who had the surgery by Dr. Brody and she did too. Maybe he does something different from other doctors. Who knows...all I know is that the pounds are going down on the scale and that's making me quite happy. I have completely changed my way of eating. I eat lots of fish, chicken and turkey. I also eat salads, drink Water and eat the 100 calorie snack packs. Although...I have also had McDonald's, Dominos and others...

Jorgina told me that my insurance does cover my fills. I guess I'll find out in three weeks. I look at it this way...they covered the surgery...if I have to pay a couple hundred dollars a couple of times a year...I can deal with that. It's much cheaper than paying for the entire surgery.

I had to call Jorgina this morning. My last scab fell off yesterday. My incisions are healing very well, but when the last scab fell off...there is white string coming out of my stomach. I'm not trying to gross you out...don't worry...anyway...she said that it will disolve and if it doesn't within a week to call her back. So...for right now, I kind of look like I was put back together with a needle and thread. Oh well...

Tina

I, too, am a member of the 'Big Boned' Club...at least that's what others say about me. I just can't wait to get this excess weight off and not be in pain (knees)...not be outta breath while walking short distances...not shopping in plus-size stores and paying extra for big girl clothes...not being self-conscious, wondering if my gut is showing...mmmm I could go on and on. LOL!!!

If you can't tell, I am extremely excited about being banded. Jul 25th can't get here fast enough!!!

So congratulations to the 2 of you with dates!

I attended a seminar last Thursday night up in Rockville with Dr. Barry Green. I am left with a lot of questions even asking several myself.

I had no idea that forever you will only be able to sip liquid in 1 ounce increments every couple minutes nor that you will have to cut your food up into almost infant like size and take a bite every couple minutes as well. Are these extreme directives or will it vary from person to person?

Why do we choose lapband over bypass? As odd as this sounds I think I might be more confused than I was thursday morning.

And chimboree, maybe we will meet sometime!

Big Silly,

From what I know, we will have to eat bite sizes from here on out and we won't be able to drink while we eat.

I know I chose the LapBand over GB b/c:

LB is less invasive

LB doesn't involve the rearrangement of my insides

LB is reversible (if necessary)

LB allows you to be in control of your wt loss (thanks to fills/unfills)

LB doesn't interfere w/the absorption of nutrients

(this is important b/c I will want to get prego one day)

LB is prego-friendly...I will just need to get an unfill

Before the LapBand, I would not have even considered wt loss surgery. E'thing else is just too drastic and invasive.

Hello BJ and marylanders,

Today I found out that I was approved for the surgery and my date is July 16 at Holy Cross Hospital. I cannot wait to lose this weight!!

It seems like everyone out there is doing great, Keep up the good work if you all have any suggestions or concerns please let me know.

I will keep you all posted.

Pamela

Hello BJ and marylanders,

Today I found out that I was approved for the surgery and my date is July 16 at Holy Cross Hospital. I cannot wait to lose this weight!!

It seems like everyone out there is doing great, Keep up the good work if you all have any suggestions or concerns please let me know.

I will keep you all posted.

Pamela

Congrats on your date!!! Make sure you come visit us at the Lucky 7s thread for July Bandsters. I'm scheduled for 7/25.

Hey Chimboree,

Thank you and congrats to you also, I am very excited but kinda scared too.

I will be on the lucky 7s thread. YEEEEPEEEE...

Pamela

Hi BJ long time no talk! This is Danielle in Waldorf. I have been so busy getting my stuff done. But i got approved and am all set for surgery! I am going to the same Dr. as Pamela and I am having surgery 7/2/07 at Holy Cross!!!

BTW how is everything going since your fill? Are you still feeling hungry?

:clap2:Danielle

Hi BJ long time no talk! This is Danielle in Waldorf. I have been so busy getting my stuff done. But i got approved and am all set for surgery! I am going to the same Dr. as Pamela and I am having surgery 7/2/07 at Holy Cross!!!

BTW how is everything going since your fill? Are you still feeling hungry?

:clap2:Danielle

Hey Bhabydoll! Congrats on your approval and date! I am being banded on 7/25 at Potomac Hospital in VA. Come join us at the Lucky 7s thread, too!

Thanks! Congrats to you to! I sure will July Bandsters. Woo-Hoo

I am from St. Mary's county. I had my surgery on 6/29/07, so I am 1 week out. Feeling great so far. I am not really having any problems with the liquids and them going down.

I had my surgery with Eric Pinnar in Reston, VA. I have my first post op appointment on 7/10.

Thanks Cathy

Hello Cathy And The Rest Of The Gang!

I Know It's Been Awhile But I Must Say I Have Not Been Myself In This Past 14 Days! Struggling With This liquid Diet!

Today Is This Big Day! God-willing I Will Be Having My Band Placed This Afternoon. So Please Pray For Me..............

I Am Not Nervous, But I Am Afraid That My Liver Will Not Have Shrink! I Have Done The Liquids For The Most Part, But Everyday I Have Also Had Something Or The Other That I Wasn't Supposed To Have. Go Please Don't Let Dr. Brody Have To Cut Me!

Cathy, Since You Are Newby, Please Tell Me How You Did On Your Diet!

Need Encouragement For You All!

Chanda

Chanda,

I can't believe that today is the day...it seems to have gone so fast. You will be fine. I'm sure that Dr. Brody will not have to cut you. Everything will be alright. Please let us know how you are doing once you come home. What time are you scheduled for? I'm so excited for you. Can't wait to hear from you...

Tina

Thanks Tina! I Needed That (your) Reassurance.........

I Am Scheduled To Be There At 2:30 For A 5:00 Surgery. I Told Them I Will Be There At 2:00 Because The May Push My Time Up.

The Sooner The Better!

I Will Be Home Tomorrow Night And Back Online. So I Will Let You All Know How It Goes........i Wish I Could Take My Laptop To The Hospital With Me. I Tell You This Website Has Been So Helpful And One Of The Best Support Systems I Have Ever Known.

Take Care And Chat With You Tomorrow,

Chanda

P.s. Tina Please Give Me An Update On Your Progress And You Current Eating Patterns So I Can Have Something To Look Forward Tooooooooooooooo.

Everyone's recovery is different, but I tell you...if I had a laptop, I wouldn't have used it because all I did was sleep after surgery. The pain meds will have you in and out. The worst part of recovery for me was the pain in my chest for almost two weeks after and then one day is one magically gone. It was totally worth it.

OK...my progress...I was at a weight loss of 45 pounds but I have gained 4 back because of my brother wedding, rehersal dinner and the infamous bachelorette party. So...the past two weeks haven't been that good for me, but he got married on Saturday and it's full speed ahead for me from here on out. Back to tuna, chicken, turkey and the gym. We can do this together...it will work!!! Can't wait to hear from you.

Tina

Guess Who's Home???

It's Me!

Surgery Went Fine.......thank God.

I Woke Up In So Much Pain Last Night In Recovery Around 7:00 Pm. They Started Me Out On My Morphine......and I Was Feeling Better By 7:15. I Didn't Get To My Room Til Around 9:30pm.

I Had A Terrible Morning And The Doctors Wanted Me To Maybe Stay Another Night. I Couldn't Urinate And I Was Sick To My Stomach All Morning. After A Good Nap, Some lunch, A Nice Walk Around The Hospital And A Lonnnnnnnnnnggg Shower, I Got My Act Together And At dinner And Now I Am Home.........

We Later Out Figured Out That I Basically Pushed The Lil Black Button To Much All Last Night When I Couldn't sleep And Made Myself Sick From To Much Morphine. Then I Turned Around And Ate My First Meal Of broth, Jello And Water Tooooooo Fast. So Needless To Say Couldn't Keep Nothing Down.

I Am Home Now Relaxing And Trying To Get This Gas And Pain Down To A Minimum. I'll Be Home The Rest Of The Week, So Keep Me Busy With All Of Your New Posts......

Take Care,

Chanda