Hi everyone--I thought I'd listen to some advice from one of the other monthly groups and start one master thread in which we have an ongoing discussion/updates. I don't know about you all but I certainly spend most of my time on these boards on the pre-op forum and the general forum, not here. It would be nice to have just one thread to go to once in this forum.

We can maybe start out with introductions?

As for me, I'm going the "online privacy" route for now (paranoid that people I haven't told about this will somehow stumble across me on this site I guess, which is crazy, I know) but I can give you the big picture:

You can call me Penny, I'm 27, single and live in the Washington, DC area. I have a background in politics (which is why I live in DC) but now I'm a librarian which is much cooler and way more fun (trust me on that). Oh, and there's no "Marion the Librarian" thing with me either. One of the things I hear most frequently (besides the cliche "you have such a pretty face") is "but you don't LOOK like a librarian", which is another one of those bizarre backhanded compliments that you never really know how to take.

Personality wise, I'm kind of dorky, big into public radio and books and popular science. Oh, I'm also a little on the paranoid side (as you may be able to tell from earlier in this post). Beyond that I'm just kind of silly and friendly, VERY much so into traveling and I'm an aspiring "green" domestic diva (but that's not going so well).

I always have my fills and unfill through flour and it is still not right. So I think you can't always tell that way either. Called another doctor to see if they could get me in sooner than Nov. 16 (actual appt. thought it was the 5th) they wanted $450 for consult with a fill and then after that $385 per fill or unfill!!!!!!!!!!! I am trying to find some one else. I am in the Kansas City area will travel some if any one knows another place to go.

I always have my fills and unfill through flour and it is still not right. So I think you can't always tell that way either. Called another doctor to see if they could get me in sooner than Nov. 16 (actual appt. thought it was the 5th) they wanted $450 for consult with a fill and then after that $385 per fill or unfill!!!!!!!!!!! I am trying to find some one else. I am in the Kansas City area will travel some if any one knows another place to go.

Joiful: WTLSC in Overland Park offers $250 fills. Best of luck and Happy Bandiversary!

Hi Guys, :frown: Sounds like most of us are doing pretty good. I had .15 cc's put in last week. I'm up to 4.0 cc's right now. My doctor takes it very slow and I think I've done pretty good. I only have about 20 more lbs. to go and have lost nearly 80. I still have until the 26th for by bandversity. We just celebrated our 41st wedding anniversary today. The doctor thought walking in a pool would be good to help build up the muscles in my back before surgery, so we bought an above ground pool for our anniversary. Can't wait for a nip and tuck, me in a swim suit is not a pretty sight. I'm glad I live in the country where only the neighbors cows and horses can see me.

Hang in there kids. We're going to make it. Have a great one!

I'm also waiting for that blasted ticker to move. my fill is still at 5.2 I'm gonna stop being a chicken and call for an appt. Monday morning. I haven't had one since the begining of Feb. I just wish my fill center had fluro. I would like to see whats going on in there. It's kinda hard for me to guess when I have enough or to much, but so be it, it is what it is. And as far as the exercise I wish I could really get into it but it just doesn't seem to go that way. I see people getting into running and so on, It sounds great but when I try most exercise I just don't get that warm fuzzy feeling they seem too. Oh well, I'll keep trying. Congats to all.

Congrats! to you. Don't they take all your fill out then put it back in with the new stuff. My doctor takes it all out in the syringe that has about 1cc in it. Then she pushes in back in till it stops or becomes difficult to push. I usually can only hold a .3-.5 extra. I guess they all have their on techniques. This seems to work for me.

Good to hear from you. Keep in touch. DH is having gastric bypass on Wednesday. I haven't had to cook so I might get that ticker to move this week. I aslo started walking again. it seems to be the only exercise I am consistent with.

Quilting Bee, CONGRATULATIONS! on your weight loss, and HAPPY ANIVERSARY!. Enjoy your pool. Our 40th is in December. We are going to Hawaii. We lived our first married years there so we just wanted to take a stroll down memory lane. The best part is we are both going to be comfortable in our airplane seats. It is an eight hour flight from here.

That is so cool that both of you are celebrating 40 years together!

I went to Surgical Weight Loss Centers they are the ones where I have gotten about 20 fills and unfills. They just want your money was even suggesting me getting a new band!!! Heard the PA trying to sell a band during a consultation while we waited an 1 1/2 for my appointment. The walls where thin so my husband and I heard a lot.

So happy to see all the weight loss you guys have accomplished!!!!!

Congrats! to you. Don't they take all your fill out then put it back in with the new stuff. My doctor takes it all out in the syringe that has about 1cc in it. Then she pushes in back in till it stops or becomes difficult to push. I usually can only hold a .3-.5 extra. I guess they all have their on techniques. This seems to work for me.

Good to hear from you. Keep in touch. DH is having gastric bypass on Wednesday. I haven't had to cook so I might get that ticker to move this week. I aslo started walking again. it seems to be the only exercise I am consistent with.

Well, that's kinda how they do mine. she pulls it all out to make sure it's all still there and then she puts it back in and starts adding and I drink water and tell her when it slows down but isn't to tight, that's what I have a problem with. sometimes I just can't tell. I would just like to see whats going on in there sometimes I really don't like using my own judgement because I'm just not sure what the sweet spot feels like. I broke down and made an apointment for the 21st That's the day before my bandaversary. Also just wanted to say congrats to your DH and thoughts, prayers and good wishes will be with your whole family.

Charlene, Just dropping by to see how your DH's surgery went.

Hope all is well.

Charlene, Just dropping by to see how your DH's surgery went.

Hope all is well.

We are home. He had surgery yesterday at 2pm and has done so well the doctor released him. He is hurting right now from the ride home, but I think he will be fine. Thanks for your concern.

Hey, I forgot ..........my band aniversary was yesterday. I am ready to start a new year with new goal. I thought last year I would have been down 100lbs, but that didn't happen mainly because I did not totally change my eating habits. I think I am going to get with a nutritionist and work on my food choices. If I don't do that I probably will join WW. This time I have a tool to help me stay with the program.

Happy bandaversary!!! maybe not 100lbs but still a whole new you. Congrats!

So very happy all is well with DH, How exciting for the both of you to be building a new life togather. I'll bet you will do a lot better with both of you doing this togather.

It all most seems like we're the last of the butterflies to fly the coop. Really glad you stay in touch, it would be really lonely posting by myself. I blame it on Facebook

It's so darn addictive(HEE HEE)

We need a fb page so we can keep in touch easier. It takes awhile for this to load. Is any one interested?

It sounds good to me, We don't have a page but a few of us are on each others friend list already

Hello July bandsters, I'm not the big loser I thought I would be. Hanging in there though, a new fill this week and hope I'm back on track. Amazingly, I haven't gained but I really need to bust this plateau and drop 10 to 20...

Hey, I forgot ..........my band aniversary was yesterday. I am ready to start a new year with new goal. I thought last year I would have been down 100lbs, but that didn't happen mainly because I did not totally change my eating habits. I think I am going to get with a nutritionist and work on my food choices. If I don't do that I probably will join WW. This time I have a tool to help me stay with the program.

Congrats on the year !! I agree with everyone else now that you are helping husband i think it will probably better for you because you guys will eat virtually the same things.