Hey all.

So there's a bunch of us in this group, all split up into our different banding days. I was thinking that it might be a good idea to have one master thread as we move through the month, in which all of us could post as we go, from the pioneers going on March 1st to the finalists on March 31st.

I'd love to talk about our anticipation and any worries as we approach our banding date, for people to talk about exactly what happened from the moment they walked into the hospital door until the second they walked out, about how recovery is going, about weight loss and plateaus, about non-scale victories and challenges.

I was thinking that if we all contribute to one thread, it'll form a more substantial channel for information and support. At the moment, I was thinking that we might be too spread out into individual date, and that a central thread would be a really good backbone for the group, in addition to the date-specific threads.

What do you think?

Fenton

Julie...Congratulations!!! You are also almost halfway to goal! Congratulations!!

Christine

Harley...thanks for the recipies, I will try them out.

Desdemona, sounds like you have hit the spot!

Christine

Dear fellow shrinking shamrocks,

I don't post much but enjoy reading all of your posts and enjoying your stories and successes!

I just had to post because I am so excited, I am down to 250 finally!!!!

Thanks for your support!

:thumbup: :cool2:

WTG - Congratulations Julie

I agree I think several of us are reaching our "sweet spot" KUDOS to all of us for our success

Yes, I'd say I'm definitely at my sweet spot - I'm at 1/2 to 3/4 cup maximum at a time right now and I'm doing all I can to make that 1/2 cup be as good as I can make it. I need to get better at doing 6x a day with 1/2 cup instead of trying to eat 3/4 to 1 cup 3-4 times. Every day is a new learning experience but with tomorrow Oct 17 being 7 months out for me, I wouldn't trade it for anything.

Keep on Shrinking Shamrocks! You inspire me and this is one of my favorite threads to follow because I know we are all at the same place in journey post op.

Hello!

Congrats Julie! I was thrilled to hit that same goal not long ago.

I think I am going to go in for a slight fill. I am starting to be able to eat more than I should and get hungry more often. I have to admit after being at a place where this didn't happen, I am not happy. I want to give it a few more days, just in case it is a temporary thing.

Harley, great drink recipes. I was in a support group with a lot of pre-ops and they always ask me about that stuff. I'll have to remember to print it out and take it with me!

Hope everyone has a great, active weekend! :smile:

OK, so now that I have set my short term goal, I have stalled. I'm going to up the excersize and hope that helps. It's funny how when I am losing I dont' really notice it in my clothes, but when the scale stops moving, the clothes seem to fall off of me.

I have taken a new job closer to home, so I might have to switch to a different center to get fills. I usually go to my MD in Manhattan right after work for a fill, but now it's not goign to be convienient at all.

Amanda, which MD do you use? Any other Long Islanders out there?

Christine

I am in Suffolk county. I use Dr. Edward Cussatti in West Islip and think he is great, but he charges $100.00 per fill.

Hi Everyone!

I have seen quite a few of you guys getting fills. My surgeon said I can only have 3 the first year. Has anyone else heard of this? It seems that so many have had several 4,5,6, or more the first year.

He is aggressive with them, he puts in so that you're completely occluded, then pulls out very slowly just enough so that the water goes down very slowly. It seems that some just get a certain amount despite the effect on the restriction.

What do you guys think??

Hey everyone

Well I finally did it,reached the 50lbs lost.:thumbup:I could not believe my eyes when I stepped on the scale yesterday and it said 237,I had to get off and try again.I can be happy now and enjoy the moment,I was too sick yesterday to post or should I say boast because I had a tooth removed that got infected and was pretty miserable for a few days.I'm on the mend now so thats a plus.Have to get DH to figure out the ticker thing.

I think we are an amazing bunch to have been able to carry around all this extra weight and still been able to do things no wonder we had problems.

I was at the supermarket today and saw a 50lb bag of potatoes and was not able to lift it yet I carried it around for years.I can't help but wonder what I will feel like when the next 90 comes off.Thanks all for help and support along the way and letting me be a part of this journey we all share.

Pat

Congrats on the first 50!!!! I remember what a milestone it is!!!!!!

:tongue_smilie::thumbsup::tt1::thumbsup::thumbsup::cool2:

Mylah--how awesome for you!! I know I could not lift the 73 I have lost but it is amazing that we have been lugging it around for so many years.

My Dr is at North Shore Long Island Jewish Hosp. at Syosset. It is a Center of Excellance for Bariatric Surgery. There are 2 Band Drs there and they have a staff with another Dr, Physicians Assistants, nutritionist and Psych Dr.

The norm is most Drs will not fill someone they have not banded. But since you are coming from an excellent program at NYU I hope you will not have that problem. See who your Dr recommends too.

Where are you located?

My surgeon said I can only have 3 the first year. Has anyone else heard of this? ...What do you guys think??

I have never heard that before. Why don't you post a ? over on the main fill board.

My Dr is very conservative with fills. I had to wait about 2 months for my first fill. I've only had 2 fills so far.

Good idea! I'll post on the main board.

I go to the surgeon on Tuesday... hope I am down a little more by then, kind of been at a little stand still (my own doing).

I have been experiencing some port area discomfort this week, fairly uncomfortable. The only thing I did different this week was lifted weights a few days at the gym, I wonder if I pulled something. I can't even lay on my left side to sleep at night...ouch

Good idea! I'll post on the main board.

I go to the surgeon on Tuesday... hope I am down a little more by then, kind of been at a little stand still (my own doing).

I have been experiencing some port area discomfort this week, fairly uncomfortable. The only thing I did different this week was lifted weights a few days at the gym, I wonder if I pulled something. I can't even lay on my left side to sleep at night...ouch

Tess - I too have had some discomfort in the port area. It is sensitive if i gently push on it. I am going to DR on Tuesday and will ask her then. I knowI do not need a fill this time. I can eat no more than 1/2 cup at a time. seems to have held at this point for the past month....