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Arkansas Bansters!!!



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Girl you better come one. Flowergurl is fixing to pass me up! I am down almost 30 lbs. I am almost to my first goal of being under 200 lbs. :blink:

Going to work hard this week to get closer to my goal. Went and bought a new shirt and HELLO it is a 16-18 sure beats a 22 wide. Hopefully next I can buy clothes in the normal sizes instead of having to go find the plus sizes. :tt2:

Hey just wanted to see if anyone is still getting on here? Not much action these days....How is the weight loss coming?

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Hi Melody Mary,

Congratulations on the weight loss! I'd be thrilled if I did that great. I', having my surgery in Hope. I went to 3 different seminars and did a lot of research and was really impressed with Dr. Lutrell, plus I know someone at work who went to Dr Lutrell and was very happy with him and his staff. I'll just be so relieved when it's done, I can worry any mole hill into a mountain, and am a real scardy-cat when it comes to surgery.

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Hi Melody Mary,

Congratulations on the weight loss! I'd be thrilled if I did that great. I', having my surgery in Hope. I went to 3 different seminars and did a lot of research and was really impressed with Dr. Lutrell, plus I know someone at work who went to Dr Lutrell and was very happy with him and his staff. I'll just be so relieved when it's done, I can worry any mole hill into a mountain, and am a real scardy-cat when it comes to surgery.

...Is your insurance helping you?

Please contact me through my email,, melody_mary_42f@yahoo.com.....

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I am just at the VERY beginning of all of this and still not certain - maybe because I am overwhelmed with it all. The first thing I check on was insurance and it's covered with the 'normal' requirements. So now I am searching the internet to get more information and going back to my PC doctor tomorrow to get the ball rolling. Please tell me this is a nerve racking ordeal and I am not making a mountain out of a mole hill? A big question is post-surgery when they say you can only have small amounts of Water at a time - what is a 'small amount of water' and how often can I drink? I sweat like a pig (even did when I was in shape and played sports in college) and I also talk most of the day on my job and easily drink 2 liters of water a day. I can't imagine not being able to drink once I go back to work. Maybe it's getting the cart before the horse, but one of the reasons I am motivated to lose weight is because I love my job and want to be able to do it for as long as possible. Don't want to lose my job because I am LOSING weight....kind of defeats the purpose! :(

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I am just at the VERY beginning of all of this and still not certain - maybe because I am overwhelmed with it all. The first thing I check on was insurance and it's covered with the 'normal' requirements. So now I am searching the internet to get more information and going back to my PC doctor tomorrow to get the ball rolling. Please tell me this is a nerve racking ordeal and I am not making a mountain out of a mole hill? A big question is post-surgery when they say you can only have small amounts of Water at a time - what is a 'small amount of water' and how often can I drink? I sweat like a pig (even did when I was in shape and played sports in college) and I also talk most of the day on my job and easily drink 2 liters of Water a day. I can't imagine not being able to drink once I go back to work. Maybe it's getting the cart before the horse, but one of the reasons I am motivated to lose weight is because I love my job and want to be able to do it for as long as possible. Don't want to lose my job because I am LOSING weight....kind of defeats the purpose! :thumbup:

Hi there. Mary here from Jacksonville. You are worrying needlessly over the water situation. Drinkers are the good losers. Water drinkers that is. I am not a fan of it myself. I had the band Jan 16, 2009. I have lost 52 pounds, and it is going to take me to my goal. I am naming it and CLAIMING IT!!! I do hope you live close enough to little rock to use Dr. WEllborn. The education before and after is worth any travel you might have to do. I have used Dr. Wellborn on two occassions and there isnt any better out there.

At the beginning of your band journey you might not notice much difference in the ability to drink quickly. In the mornings things move a little slower due to the fact that your band is somewhat tighter in the mornings. I have no problem drinking, but that is only between meals. The rule is 60-90 minutes after a meal is when you can start to drink liquids. That is so you dont wash out what you have just eaten and then you might get hungry before time for your next meal. That ideally is around 4 hours. I have had 4 Fills and I can tell with each one that I am on my way to being tighter. My goal is to lose:about 55 more pounds,,,,,,or maybe even just 50. I will see.

I would love to visit with you...if i can be of any help or encouragement,,,,,,please get in touch...I have been right where you are today. It was about an 8 mo. process for me. Just because I went through the process of changing insurances so that I could get financial help w/weightloss surgery.

melody_mary_42f@yahoo.com will bring you right here to me.

Blessings to you.

Mary

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Hope you are doing well..i have been looking for a fill center in upper arkansas or lower missouri...

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Hope you are doing well..i have been looking for a fill center in upper arkansas or lower missouri...

We have a primary care physician we have trained to do fills in the Ft. Smith area. Let me check with him to see if he will fill patients that are not from our practice.

The potential conflict lies in the fact that if you develop some sort of issue with your Band that would require that advice or intervention of a surgeon, he needs to make sure that you have a surgeon that would be able to see you.

I will be out of town for a week so if I don't post a response or PM you, feel free to PM me as a reminder.

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Any bandsters in Arkansas?

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Any bandsters in Arkansas?

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Hi Ya'll,

I am a near Arkansan, I live on the Oklahoma Arkansas border. I had my surgery done in Fort Smith Arkansas, my cost was 14500. My surgeon was Doctor Chris Coleman. I too was happy to find some folks from Arkansas!!

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hello all im from fort smith,ar.not yet banded hoping real soon.

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I'm close to Little Rock. I'm using Dr. Baker at Baptist.

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WOW!..I just got a email with someone answering my post that I posted back in 07!!..lol..I had forgotten about this post. BUUTTT..to update my status, I ended up going to Mexicali and having Dr. Aceves do my surgery. LOVED the man. I had great success. Its been well over 4 yrs since my surgery and have kept the weight off. My insurance would not pay for the surgery and thats why I went to Mexicalli. Highly recommend if you cant afford it here in the states. My total cost for surgery with flight and hotel expense..EVERYTHING was 9,000. Free refills for life. Had 2 refills and at my sweet spot. Thanks for all that posted on this thread of Arkansas Bandsters. Anyone have any questions feel free to email me.

Best wishes

Lisa

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hello all im from fort smith,ar.not yet banded hoping real soon.

I hope you get yours soon! St. Edwards took real good care of me and I am doing well!! Keep me posted if you get yours!!

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    • Doughgurl

      2 days until I fly out to San Diego to have my Bypass Surg. in Tiajuana Mexico. Not gonna lie, the nerves are starting to surface. I don't fear the surgery itself, or the fact that I'm traveling alone, but its the aftermath that I'm stressing about the most, after this 8 week wait. I'm excited to finally be here, but I am really dreading the post surgical chapter. I know its going to be tough, real tough and I think I'm just in my head to much now that the day i here. Wish me luck, Hopefully I'm one of the lucky ones, and everything goes smoothly. Cant wait to give an exciting update,. If there is anyone else have a June bypass or even a recent one, Id love to have someone to compare war stories with. Also, anyone near San Antonio Tx? See ya soon with the future me. 💜
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
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    • Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
      · 2 replies
      1. Selina333

        I'm so happy for you! You are about to change your life. I was so glad to get the sleeve done in Dec. I didn't have feelings of regret overall. And I'm down almost 60 lbs. I do feel a little sad at restaurants. I can barely eat half a kid's meal. I get adults meals often because kid ones don't have the same offerings at times. Then I feel obligated to eat on that until it's gone and that can be days. So the restaurant thing isn't great for me. All the rest is fine by me! I love feeling full with very little. I do wish I could drink when eating. And will sip at the end. Just a strong habit to stop. But I'm working on it! You will do fine! Just keep focused on your desire to be different. Not better or worse. But different. I am happy both ways but my low back doesn't like me that heavy. So I listened (also my feet!). LOL! Update us on your journey! I'm not far from you. I'm in Houston. Good luck and I hope it all goes smoothly! Would love to see pics of the town you go to for this. I've never been there. Neat you will be traveling for this! Enjoy the journey. Take it one day at a time. Sometimes a few hours at a time. Follow all recommendations as best you can. 💗

      2. Doughgurl

        Thank you so much for your well wishes. I am hoping that everything goes easy for me as well. We don't eat out much as it is, so it wont be too bad in that department. Thankfully. Also, I hear you regarding your back and feet!! I'd like to add knees to the list. Killing me as we speak! I'm only 5' so the weight has to go. Too short to carry all this weight. Menopause really did a doosey on me. (😶lol) My daughter also lives in Houston. with her Husband and my 5 grand-littles. I grew up in Beaumont, so I know Houston well, I will be sure to keep in touch and update you on my journey. I may need some advice in the future, or just motivation. Thank You so much for reaching out, I was hoping to connect with someone in the community. I really appreciate it. 💜

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

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