I'm sorry I don't have a before picture, will put one on later. In the current picture, I'm the one in the purple. I just wanted to say for anyone feeling that it isn't working; it will trust me. I live in Chicago,IL and found a surgeon in Detroit that would do it for about $7,000 less than Illinois. That was a hassle going back and forth to Detroit for fills. I had a program that said that I would get fills for free for one year. So stupidly I went back and forth to Detroit for about 5 months after surgery to get fills. I finally found a fill doctor in Chicago that was only $80 per fill. So now it's been almost two years and I am down 170 lbs. I started at a size 30/32 and I am not a size 6/8. Never in my life did I ever think that I would be skinny!! I am so happy.

So for those who are having plateau's, you will get past that. I had many many plateau's and everything is great now!

I do have some pb's every now and then and some air bubbles that seem like they will never go away but it is a learning process. Just work with your doctor, let them know EVERYTHING!! If you don't tell them something, they may misdiagnose you and you'll have more problems. Get on the forums, they help. Even though this surgery has been around a while, it still has some surprising things that you may have never heard of. All I know is that through all of the frustration and then not being able to eat even though I soooooooo wanted to, it's worth it. To be able to go into a "normal" store and put on something knowing that it will fit, That is the best feeling in the world to me! I am finally...... "normal". :-)

congrats!!!! keep up the excellent work. Definitely an inspiration.

Congrats! :thumbsup: I am right about where you were when you started, height and weight wise.... WoW!! that is wonderful, it would be a dream come true to be 170 again!!! Something to look forward too, my surgery is on May 18th.... :grouphug: Did you exercise and keep a food diary, What would you consider to be some of your main points in achieving your weight loss??

Thanks so much! :thumbup:

Congrats! This makes me feel inspired again! My surgery is tomorrow, May 8, 2009. I'm starting at 324 and have high hopes of achieving the same kind of success that you have. I began reading about the pb's that some have had because they're diabetic and have PCOS like me, and I began doubting that I can do it. I'm so glad I just stumbled across your post. Do you have any tips?

My surgery with Dr. Webber is on May 27th. I'm excited but I'm also getting scared. Everyone that knows I'm having the procedure is against it. They all know someone who knows someone who died from it. It's starting to freak me out. Did you get any stats from Dr. Webber about mortality rates? There are three distinct outcomes per the internet (or so it seems)... it works perfectly, there are minor problems due to "user error", or you die.

I've tried everything under the sun to lose weight and this is kind of my last hope. Thoughts?

...very nervous...

Oh...and congrats! You look amazing!

Any chance of getting the doctors name that will do the banding for 7,000. would greatley appreciate the information THA:thumbup:NKS

Any chance of getting the Dr Name and actual location to get the surgery done in Michigan for 7,000 would be more than greatful looks like my insurance company is going to deny me and I will be a self pay WOW you did great hope I can do the same Thank you

Any chance of getting the Dr Name and actual location to get the surgery done in Michigan for 7,000 would be more than greatful looks like my insurance company is going to deny me and I will be a self pay WOW you did great hope I can do the same Thank you

Hey Christa, I think what she was saying is that the cost of the surgery in Detroit was $7,000 cheaper than it would have been in Illinois, not that the overall cost was $7,000. But anyway, her surgeon Dr. Webber is the same as mine and he currently charges $10,700 for the surgery. There is also a Dr. in Denver that does it for $9,900 I think.

The Dr. in Denver is super! I live here in Colorado and his name is Dr. Kirshenbaum. That is correct on the cost of surgery and he is so awesome!! I had surgery Jan. 9th and have lost almost 100 pounds. I had lost my 100 and then went on a cruise-:thumbdown: that is ok though! it is going to come off:):scared2: Feel free to let me know if you need any info on Dr. K:)

You look amazing! Thanks for the encouragment, it is exactly what I'm needing. This plateau is starting to budge, and I'm feeling like someday I'll have a SUCCESS story and FABO picture too! Good job!

Congrats on the terrific weight loss. I was banded Oct. 2007 and lost 115#. I was pretty much at goal then had to get an unfill due to daily vomiting and not keeping anything down. I gained 14# in 4 weeks! Had a fill and I do not feel much restriction. I was told to only eat a 1/2 cup of food and that is not happening! The Nurse Prac. who does the fills wants me to keep a food journal and I have not been good! How do I get back on track. It was easier before when I could barely eat! Maybe I need another fill! I do not know what normal is anymore. What do you eat for your meals? I am exercising more and that does help. How can I be better? I feel like a failure already! Thanks for your advice! Suzanne G.

AFTER 2 YEARS DIETARY WISE CAN U ANYWHERE NEAR A NORMAL MEAL OR ARE U STILL LIMITED.I'M 7 MONTHS POSTBANDED.LIMITED ON WHAT I CAN TOLERATE.MEATS,PASTA, RICE,CHEESE CABBAGE, BROCCOLI ,ARE UNTOLERABLE AS OF RIGHT NOW:tongue_smilie:BUT 2 ME ITS WORTH IT 2 GET WHERE I WANT 2 BE.GOAL A SIZE 8. SIZE TODAY A 12:wub:

What caught me most about your post was your photo. Your friends are beautiful - but looking at the group as a whole...them in black, hunched, squished, etc.....and then you - bright purple, upright, proud....

this picture is worth a million words!

Congrats on your success.

The Dr. in Denver is super! I live here in Colorado and his name is Dr. Kirshenbaum. That is correct on the cost of surgery and he is so awesome!! I had surgery Jan. 9th and have lost almost 100 pounds. I had lost my 100 and then went on a cruise-:thumbup: that is ok though! it is going to come off:) Feel free to let me know if you need any info on Dr. K:)

Drs. Brown and Metz in Denver also do self-pay for $9900. Very easy to get an appointment with them, and very good nutrition info.

I see you made a post awhile ago saying you had a doctor in chicago that did fills for 80! Can you pass on his info!? Thanks!