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'm so glad I found this July Thread. It's also nice to know there are people out their near my age (59 in June).

I got my band on July 24th. I had no problems after the surgery. The protein drinks were ucky, but I made it through it. It's nice to have real food once again.

Dr. Livingston at UT Southwestern in Dallas did my surgery. I had my first doctor visit on Monday and they did my surgery the following Thursday. I don't know why I got to skip all the pre-op stuff. I feel I missed a lot of useful info I should have had, but I was glad I got it done so fast. I've lost 25lbs. so far and had my 1st fill on Sept. 15. My band already had 2cc and they just added .6.

I sometimes feel I get food stuck in my throat, I try to chew everything to mush, but sometimes it really hurts. It doesn't happen often but when it does it hurts like heck. Any suggestions?

Good luck to all July banders out there.

I'm so glad I found this July Thread. It's also nice to know there are people out their near my age (59 in June).

I got my band on July 24th. I had no problems after the surgery. The protein drinks were ucky, but I made it through it. It's nice to have real food once again.

Dr. Livingston at UT Southwestern in Dallas did my surgery. I had my first doctor visit on Monday and they did my surgery the following Thursday. I don't know why I got to skip all the pre-op stuff. I feel I missed a lot of useful info I should have had, but I was glad I got it done so fast. I've lost 25lbs. so far and had my 1st fill on Sept. 15. My band already had 2cc and they just added .6.

I sometimes feel I get food stuck in my throat, I try to chew everything to mush, but sometimes it really hurts. It doesn't happen often but when it does it hurts like heck. Any suggestions?

Good luck to all July banders out there.

Try raising your arms over your head. It helped me. :confused:

:rolleyes2: Thanks, I'll give it a try.

:rolleyes2: Thanks, I'll give it a try.

I have the same problem with severe pain in my chest between my breast if I eat too fast, too big a bite, or too much. I had my 2nd fill yesterday and am on liquids for 24 hrs. I do not think I will schedule another for at least 4 wks. I lost 6 lbs between the 1st and 2nd fill and I want to be able to eat enough to keep me healthy. But I agree, the pain is intense when you do not eat properly.

I have the same problem with severe pain in my chest between my breast if I eat too fast, too big a bite, or too much. I had my 2nd fill yesterday and am on liquids for 24 hrs. I do not think I will schedule another for at least 4 wks. I lost 6 lbs between the 1st and 2nd fill and I want to be able to eat enough to keep me healthy. But I agree, the pain is intense when you do not eat properly.

Yeah, and when you get that pain and start sliming......do not drink fluids! It adds insult to injury. I just did it about an hour ago. :girl_hug:

Sorry to be a bummer but I think of you guys as my family.

I jost lost my job today.

I can't beleive it I was with my comapny for 7 years and today 45mins before I left for the day they let my whole depatment go.:confused: This totally sucks. Now I have to find a job that will let me go and get my fills or find something early enough in the day that it won't matter.

And besides that my husband works for a company that is not doing well and they will most likely let people go.

My insurance did not pay for the lap band so I was self pay now I have to find away to pay all that debt off.

This so sucks I just want to bury myself in Chocolate and margaritas.

I feel like crying:crying:

Anybody got any encouraging words?

{{{{Big hugs}}}} I'm so sorry.

I'm so sorry. I know it's hard when we're in the thick of stress like this, but take time to care for yourself. This too will pass. I know it sounds trite, but it will. I'm sending cyber hugs your way.

Thank you all for the support:smile:. I am trying to hang in there. I have been sending out my resume like mad. Maybe something will happen soon.

I'm still here. Going in for my 2nd fill in a 10 cc band this friday. I have 3.5 cc from the first fill.

Sorry to be a bummer but I think of you guys as my family.

I jost lost my job today.

I can't beleive it I was with my comapny for 7 years and today 45mins before I left for the day they let my whole depatment go.:smile: This totally sucks. Now I have to find a job that will let me go and get my fills or find something early enough in the day that it won't matter.

And besides that my husband works for a company that is not doing well and they will most likely let people go.

My insurance did not pay for the lap band so I was self pay now I have to find away to pay all that debt off.

This so sucks I just want to bury myself in chocolate and margaritas.

I feel like crying:crying:

Anybody got any encouraging words?

BIG :confused: and so so sorry for your troubles I'll pray for you and your family. You've come a long way on a tough journey, that says something about you: your strong and you'll make it thru these tough times. and who knows maybe you'll end up with a better job.

Sorry to be a bummer but I think of you guys as my family.

I jost lost my job today.

I can't beleive it I was with my comapny for 7 years and today 45mins before I left for the day they let my whole depatment go.:confused: This totally sucks. Now I have to find a job that will let me go and get my fills or find something early enough in the day that it won't matter.

And besides that my husband works for a company that is not doing well and they will most likely let people go.

My insurance did not pay for the lap band so I was self pay now I have to find away to pay all that debt off.

This so sucks I just want to bury myself in chocolate and margaritas.

I feel like crying:crying:

Anybody got any encouraging words?

I can empathize with you. The company I worked for closed the department I worked in back in 2000. At the time, I needed colon surgery so I had to pay for a Cobra plan. It is a shock to your life. You have youth on your side. Take one day at a time. Try to be mindful of your eating habits. I turned to food and that is when I piled on the lbs. I will be praying for you to find a job even better than the one you had. We are here for you.

BIG :smile2: and so so sorry for your troubles I'll pray for you and your family. You've come a long way on a tough journey, that says something about you: your strong and you'll make it thru these tough times. and who knows maybe you'll end up with a better job.

I can empathize with you. The company I worked for closed the department I worked in back in 2000. At the time, I needed colon surgery so I had to pay for a Cobra plan. It is a shock to your life. You have youth on your side. Take one day at a time. Try to be mindful of your eating habits. I turned to food and that is when I piled on the lbs. I will be praying for you to find a job even better than the one you had. We are here for you.

All,

Thanks so much for all of your kind words. I have been sending out my resume so hopefully I will get calls soon.:bored:

And for everyone - isn't this much harder than you thought. I guess I was kidding myself that the band was the miracle. I knew it wasn't, but I guess I didn't believe it. Now I do.

I second that! I have been gaining and losing the same 3-4 lbs for the past month. I got my 3rd fill this past Tuesday and am hoping it will help. I do have more restriction than with my first 2 fills but as some of the others have noted, the feeling I get isn't the feeling of being full or even satisfied, but more that of feeling slightly stuck after about a 1/2 cup of food. I feel hungry again a couple of hours later but in any case, I am eating less than I was before my 3rd fill. Now I have 4 ccs in an 8 cc band.

I evacuated to San Antonio on the 11th the day before Ike hit and came back on the 18th when my neighbors reported that the power was back in our neighborhood. I've just been really busy trying to get things back to normal since then.

I second that! I have been gaining and losing the same 3-4 lbs for the past month. I got my 3rd fill this past Tuesday and am hoping it will help. I do have more restriction than with my first 2 fills but as some of the others have noted, the feeling I get isn't the feeling of being full or even satisfied, but more that of feeling slightly stuck after about a 1/2 cup of food. I feel hungry again a couple of hours later but in any case, I am eating less than I was before my 3rd fill. Now I have 4 ccs in an 8 cc band.

I evacuated to San Antonio on the 11th the day before Ike hit and came back on the 18th when my neighbors reported that the power was back in our neighborhood. I've just been really busy trying to get things back to normal since then.

Glad you made it back. I wondered if you evacuated. We came back the 13th and were without power for six days. I am so grateful we did not have damage.

I have had 3 fills and can still eat a whole Lean Cuisine. I have been getting stuck though, which tells me I do have more restriction. I am getting another fil in October and one in November. I hope to reach a sweet spot by then. I think I only have 3cc or less in a 10cc band. I have to journal all my food or I will overeat.