I would like to be on this forum, but I don't see any recent activity. Should I be on a different forum for talkers like myself?? Anne

I completely understand.

Most of us here have lost weight, whether it be 10 pounds, 40 pounds or 100 pounds and put it back on.

You want to stay where you are. And you want hardware to help you keep the weight you've lost off permenantly.

When you're a self pay, your options are a lot greater.

Hi all,

I am being banded on July 22nd and have a BMI of 25. (Currently but will get higher again if I wait any longer.) I keep going up and down and was able to show this trend through my Weight Watchers info. I do have to self pay as my insurance wants me to gain lots of weight before they will even talk to me about it.

Today I am off to the stress test and have only blood work and the scan left.

Phoenix, where do you live? My dad lives in Mesa. I come there all the time. I usually meet up with some other bandsters for lunch while I am there. It's great to meet people from lap band talk!

I asked the doctor if he would change my surgery to VSG which is the sleeve instead of the band. I should hear something today.

Phoenix, where do you live? My dad lives in Mesa. I come there all the time. I usually meet up with some other bandsters for lunch while I am there. It's great to meet people from lap band talk!

I live in the far west valley (Avondale), but work in Tempe/Chandler. Mesa usually isn't too far to travel in the middle of the week. That would be great! I'd love to meet other bandsters. I'm the only one I know in the area who has one.

Oh we have a lot of AZ bandsters. Have you ever gone to the AZ thread?

WasABubblebutt and Snowbird and I are meeting at the Landmark. I will be down from 8-20 to 8-30. Luv rocks lives in Glendale. There are about 3 other people in Mesa very close to my dad's house.

You are welcome to join us at the Landmark. No date or time has been set yet.

I'd love to meet you all!

Where is the Landmark?

I think it's on main street in downtown Mesa. I can get the directions from another thread. It's supposed to be a great restaurant. You can google it. It has a web site. WasA and I were supposed to go there the last time I was there, but we ended up meeting at Arizona Mills instead.

How is it going? I got sleeved 6 days ago and I'm back at work and 8 pounds lighter! The hospital and doctors were great. Now, I'm trying to figure out what I can drink that tastes ok, not too sweet and will give me energy. I made popsicles with my protein powder and fruit and yogurt and put them in the freezer for this, but they taste gross. I've been trying all kinds of stuff. I'm going to try Slim Fast low carb in chocolate, I hear on the forums that it's a favorite.

I also opted for the sleeve. It is a better match for me than the lapband. I will have my surgery on Friday!

You are making great progress! Congrats!

Hey that's pretty cool that we have some sleeve people here! I would get the sleeve in a heartbeat if I had any problems at all with my band.

Ilse,

That's great about getting the sleeve. My doctor in Mexicali said that he is doing about 20 sleeves now to one band and will probably quit doing bands by next year. If you haven't thought about it, you might want to buy a few of those instant heating pads from Walgreens or Walmart. I thought the heat felt good while in and out of the hospital. Also, a good tip after you get out of the hospital, is to get a Coke Icee or Slushie. Something about the cola and caffine makes things a little better on the tummy. Good luck! Anne

That's really cool that doctors are saying that the sleeve is going to take over. It's such a good idea. I would love not to have the worry of a slip,

erosion, and my port bugs me.

HI, I'm a lower BMI in a way 38 but I had a list of health problems so insurance paid for my band in April. So far I have lost 25 pounds in 16 weeks. However, some weeks I lose nothing. I don't know if that is normal or am I eating something wrong. I feel that my taste buds have really changed. Just like most of you I have a great husband of 20 years and grown children. My husband was against the surgery due to my health issues but like most women I got my way and I had to jump through hoops for 9 months but it was worth it. I did want to ask some one a stupid question? What is the sleeve? I have never heard of it.

The sleeve is just when they make you a tiny stomach. They do cut off most of your stomach. But there is no after care. You don't have to worry about fills, unfills, erosion, slips, etc.

If you're having plateaus, it's perfectly normal. sometimes our bodies just need to take time to get used to being at a new weight and then it will start to drop again.

I am on vacation in Florida with my family. I was worried if I could handle post op liquids and vaction. It has only been one day, but it is going well.

I move to mushie food on Wednesday and am nervous. I don't want to loss my momuntum. did you all notice a big slow down in weight loss when you graduated from liquids?

Banded July 16

Highest 199.6

Surgery day 196

Current 183

Goal 130!!!!

(PS, DRH, I will be back to work soon - keep the place in ship sharp!)