Great Idea - I will do it right now !!

Hi

I am Janet and I am a recovering food addict :wink2:

I was banded 7/17/07 - My starting weight was 250 - I'm 5'4

Today (just over 10 months out) I am 154 - size 8 pants (was 18/20) Medium tops (was 22/24)

I got banded as I wanted to extend the years that I have left on this planet and to do that I knew that I needed to lose weight.

The band has been the tool I needed. For the first time in my life I have been able to achieve this goal (actually getting to my goal weight)

If you want a buddy - support - help - suggestions - Please feel free to call upon me - I will gladly share my journey with you - the journey is still on going and by helping you I will be helping me (staying motivated and accountable) and then one day you can pay it forward and help someone else.

Phyl, my heart goes out to Janet and her family. Please tell her I am praying for them.

Phyll...I am sure Janet is devastated. As JoannMarie stated, she was just talking about her family today and had spent a good share of her weekend putting albums together. She will be in my thoughts and prayers.

Hi Everyone - first time here. Just made my first appointment for lap band and am very, very conflicted - like I'm sure most of you were. So many questions. Just wanted to say hello. It's comforting to know there is a place for people to go who are having or have had this procedure.

Lee

Please let Janet know that my heart goes out to her and her family. I will keep them in my thoughts and prayers.

Gail

Hi Tickitac,

Welcome to this group. I'm afraid we may seem a little preoccupied tonight. Our mentor, IndioGirl, had a death in her family today, and will be away from LBTalk for a while. Please feel free to post and ask any questions that come to mind. There are several people here who can provide answers and support for you while Indio is away. Please don't give up on us!

Phyllis -

Do you have a home address for Janet? I'd love to send her a card. How coincidental that she was working on photo albums, reminiscing about family, etc. I'll keep her in my thoughts.

Kathy

Good morning, all! I am having internet problems and restricted to Blackberry except when I can lug my laptop to RV park library!

I have lots of phone numbers for Janet, know approx where she lives in Indio, but no address. I will try to get it later today. Anyone who wants it please PM me.

Welcome to newcomers. We'll try to answer your questions in Janet.s absence.

Sorry to have to share this, but Janet just called and asked me to let you all know that she won't be online for a while. Her baby brother just died suddenly and she is quite devastated. He was ill briefly, apparently bronchitis but did not go to the doctor or take care of himself- no insurance, overweight, etc.

Please keep her and the family in your thoughts and prayers.

Oh Janet, I am so sorry for your loss!

I wasn't getting any updates that new posts had been made here and have not been online much. I got all the email updates on other threads but not this one so am just reading this.

Thanks for the kudos about my jeans. Not sure what my next reward will be, probably for 100 lbs. gotta be a big one don't you think? I hope to get my wallet next weekend.

I got an email out of the blue from a friend of a friend who is having lapband surgery on Monday, wanted me to share all my 'knowledge'. Imagine that, I'm a seasoned vetran now. It felt good to calm her fears and questions, her surgery is on Monday.

To Janet, So sorry to hear about the loss of your baby brother. I know this will be hard for you but time will somehow heal. You have been such a good friend to all of us and helped us all soo much and now if there is anything we can do for you we will be here always. You feel like my sister. Please except my heartfelt condolences. To the rest of you, we will have to keep each other up and supported during Janets absence. On another note, I went to Dr. today. I lost 4 lbs since last time I was in there. He gave me third fill of 0.5cc. First was 1.2, second was .05. He asked me what I had for Breakfast so I told him I had egg beaters with a slice of fat free cheese. He asked how much. I said probably two eggs worth. His reply was "Well, I can be full on two eggs". He said, did you think the band was going to do the work. I say no I am doing everything I am supposed to be doing, I just thought for a $20,000 surgery that I might ask for a little more help. His reply was nope only 0.5 is all you are getting. Am I asking for too much? We will see how this fill goes.

Beckyo

So he was being kind of tough on you, huh? He's right but couldve been a little more diplomatic! I have equivalent of one egg, but in a small omelet with a little skim mozarella and three small shrimp cut up in small pieces. He might think that is too much! Usually a small salad with a little tuna or some other protein for lunch. Tonight we had lean cuisines for dinner and I feel really full. There has to be some discipline with portion control, and exercise is very important, too.

Sounds like you are eating like a bird. I can't imagine such small portions. But then - I don't have my band yet. Question - are there any physical restrictions like snorkeling or swimming? Those are things I love.

So sorry to hear about Janet's brother. My thoughts and prayers are with her and her family.

Dear Phyl,

Please tell Janet that I am thinking of her and sending my thoughts and prayers her way. She has been such a help to so many. I just hope that the love we all feel for her provides a small bit of comfort at this time.

Love,

Ellen

I lost 4 lbs since last time I was in there. ... I just thought for a $20,000 surgery that I might ask for a little more help. His reply was nope only 0.5 is all you are getting. Am I asking for too much? We will see how this fill goes.

Beckyo

Dear Becky,

I am in your position and I feel exactly the way you do. NO, I am NOT asking that the band do EVERYTHING!!!! However, I DO expect the Dr. to provide fills that provide the type of restriction I read about here, restriction that "helps" me on this journey. I feel that I can eat everything and anything, which is where I was when I lost the 30-35 pounds BEFORE the surgery.

And Cedars billed my insurance company over $50,000 for this surgery, so I ABSOLUTELY feel that I shouldn't have to wait two months for my second fill, especially after the first did NOTHING. I am sad and frustrated. The only thing I am grateful for is that I am gaining and losing ONLY 3 -5 pounds. It could be more; but it's not the band that's helping me, at all.

I tried taking Janet's advice and calling to ask for a more timely fill, but no luck. And it wasn't the insurance co. that was putting me off, it was the doctor. He had a vacation, a conference, too many bookings, etc. I ABSOLUTELY expected more support!!! I am so sad, I could just cry; in fact, I have cried - a lot!!!

Love,

Ellen

yahoo!!! I did it!! I hit 75 lbs gone forever this morning!!

Also my rec center in my community is having a biggest loser contest. Guess who won this week!!! YAHOO!!! I won a free hair cut and style for myself and 4 friends.

Ellen & Becky, So sorry to hear you are having such troubles with getting fills. Does only your dr. give them? My office has a fill nurse and she does most of the fills, in fact the surgeon gave me the last one and he asked her how much to give me. But she's much easier to get in to see. Is that a possibility? Or are there fill centers near you or another place you can go? .5cc at a time seems really cautious. My first fill was 3cc's and most of the other ones have been 1cc, I have had a couple .5 ones but that was later in the process. It will come with future fills, but I know how you feel in wanting the restriction now. I hope you get some help sooner rather than later.