Hey all, I'm from Brooklyn, NY and I'm 25.

I started out at 280, and had surgery 4/23/07. I've had two fills so far and am down to 252. I'm only 25, however I had no choice but to do it ASAP. My dad who's been overweight most of his life developed diabetes in his earely 30's and went on to have all kinds of medical problems including kidney failure and a kidney transplant. 3 years ago he was at wits end, at 256 lbs and started doing research on the band. Long story short, he had it done exactly 3 years before me and he lost all of his excess weight in about 8 - 9 months, and has been 168 - 173 lbs ever since. So for me, it was more of preventing all that. I also have a beautiful wife and baby girl, so it changes your perspective on things in general.

So far it's been going great, I fit back into many old pants and shirts I stopped wearing a while ago, and I'm now at the gym 3 times a week. I couldn't be happier.

OH, just wanted to add that I had the surgery done in NYU by Dr. Christine Ren.

Kim NYC did you end up getting banded?!?!?

LoveliBabi21 - I did get banded Saturday. I went in for 11:30 am. Can't beieve it's over.

ok, now listen I am really wandering about this. I was banded on 3/5/07 only filled once on 6/5/07 lost 70 lbs. But I could never ever eat 3 hot dogs i would puke (sorry). I can only eat very small portion at one time. example: dinner 1/2 cup lean chicken not dry 1 cup salad I am stuffed. How are you eating like that and still loosing weight. Hot dogs are all fat, you must have incrediable metabolism!

Trust me, my metabolism ain't that great, if it were I wouldn't be in this position. You have to understand, the hot dogs were nice and crispy, it wasn't soft at all, and also I didn't eat the bun. Same goes for the pizza, it was very crunchy. I agree that I shouldn't be able to eat it either, but that's why, if you've been reading my posts, I keep complaining that I need another fill. I too agree that I shouldn't be able to eat it. The bottom line is, at the end of the day, whether it's pizza or hot dogs, I'm still eating MUCH less than I did before, and overall calorie intake is MUCH less. Therefore I'm losing weight. It doesn't really matter what you eat, as long as you fill that pouch, get yourself full with little food, you'll lose the weight. Whether or not I'm getting the right nutrition is a different argument, but you can still eat fatty foods and lose. Capiche?

LoveliBabi21 - I did get banded Saturday. I went in for 11:30 am. Can't beieve it's over.

thats great!

i probably saw you walking around the hallways

LovliBabi21 - For much of Saturday, I was walking around with a floral robe on, until I actually changed into my own pajamas that evening -- it was so nice getting out of that hospital gown. I think I might have been the first to leave Sunday morning, bolting out of there around 9:30 after Chris cleared me. You?

How are you feeling?

haha well im pretty sure u saw me prob?!?

my mom was with me the whole time.. and we were walking around

in crazy rounds...lol i was walking in a hospital gown....

but i put on grey yoga pants under it.. and my mom was in

jeans and either my grey zipup hoodie or her tank top..

Definitely think I saw you. My room had a view of the nurse's station, so i got to see everyone that stopped there, especially Sunday morning.

After your banding initially did you suffer from flatulence, and if so how long?

I was banded on 6-22 and I am trying to adjust to these new experiences, I go for my 1st fill on 7-9

ca i think we all do.. but also it depends on how much gas they pumped into your bod.. i didnt have too much trouble in that dept.. just now my port side is really really sore and it hurts if i make sudden movements and at night.

has anyone tried real food yet? im on liquid.. and im afraid to cheat yet..but i want toooo..... lol has anyone tried?!? did it go down?!?

Hi Fatboyslim!

I'm from NY also, but my surgery was performed by Dr. Roslin at Lenox Hill Hospital. NO complications. It went beautifully! Nice to hear from my NY folks!

hey,

i wanted to say hi! i just moved away from brooklyn (bay ridge) in october....i now live in texas.

there's no place like brooklyn....i like texas but bklyn will always be home.

i investigated lapband in 2002 with christine ren (she is top notch). but i guess i wasnt ready yet.

so i just had the surgery this past march. my doctor down here was in the FDA trials with dr ren.

so far so good....i wish i did it earlier.....

anyway i just wanted to say hello and i will check back

joanne

ca i think we all do.. but also it depends on how much gas they pumped into your bod.. i didnt have too much trouble in that dept.. just now my port side is really really sore and it hurts if i make sudden movements and at night.

has anyone tried real food yet? im on liquid.. and im afraid to cheat yet..but i want toooo..... lol has anyone tried?!? did it go down?!?

Hi LoveliBabi21 - I haven't cheated. I don't want to risk it. The most I've done is had some Soup with very fine threads of egg in it like Stracciatella, without the spinach. My local chinese restaurant also made me a version of hot and sour soup so I got some decent flavor. We're only a few days away from pureed foods. You can do it!!!!!!

Did you go for your esophagram yet? I went this morning and have my post-op visit on Thursday. All-in-all, I feel like I'm back to 100%. Only problem is, one of my incisions has been bleeding a bit the past couple of days, but the nurse at NYU I spoke with said it doesn't sound serious so I can wait until Thursday. Also, I actually think I have a little bit of thread from the stiches sticking out of one of the small incisions. I hope they can take care of that.

How are you holding up, besides having a desire to cheat?

can i say being on a liquid diet on the 4th of july

with no alcahol allowed really sucks!!!... i told everyone i had a stomach virus so it dosent look weird that im not munching down and drinking it up with all my friends...... ugghhhhh :cool:

kim-- no more urge to cheat (untill my friends started up the bbq grill)

and i had the esophogram.. for some reason it seems like its almost too easy.. but im deff not complaining..

everything's going great just cant sleep on my side. how is everything with you???

LoveliBabi - Happy to hear your urges to cheat have subsided. I'm sorry yesterday was such a struggle. I assume you haven't told many people you had the surgery, which could definitely make it even a bit harder. Luckily, I'm not really into the Fourth and neither are most of my friends and family, so it's not a big deal, especially since everyone had to work today. Being off from work was an excuse to stay in bed and watch Soap Operas and go grocery shopping to prepare for the next phase of the program -- pureed foods. I can't wait for this weekend. I'm so sick of soup. Other than that, I'm doing really well. I feel almost at 100% -- still get a little tired in the afternoon. Two nights ago I woke up in the middle of the night and, much to my surprise, was sleeping on my stomach. I was so excited. So, you'll probably find yourself able to sleep on your side soon. I have my post-op appt this morning, which I'm sure will be fine. I have to get some guidance on travel b/c my company wants me to do all these day trips to DC and Boston and since I still get tired I just don't know if it will be too much.

Hey, Can you guys tell me how long your Pre-op appointment took at NYU?

Hey, Can you guys tell me how long your Pre-op appointment took at NYU?

Hi NYGMEN - I was there for just over two hours, with much of the time spent waiting. First I went up to Fielding/Ren's office to take a nutritional quiz -- basically a few page paper test to make sure you "heard" what the nutritionist said when you met her. Since she was busy, I didn't review the test with her that day -- she called me later in the afternoon. Then, I headed down to pre-op. You see an anethesiologist -- not the one that you'll have surgery day -- who looks in your mouth and down your throat and then answers any questions you have. You then see a nurse who does an EKG, blood work and takes a medical history. Next it's on to the chest x-ray. If you've had a chest x-ray within six months, you don't have to have it done. Just bring copies of your films with you.

Let me know if you have any other questions.

Good luck on your journay and congrats.

Kim