Will T

UTE!!!!!!!! WOW!!!! You are ONE hot UBER-WOMAN!!! way to go! Send my congrats to John as well for his accomplishments so far!! We've got to get together! If the Hawks beat the Heat, I'll be down to sing the National Anthem for one of the second round games. I'll also be down singing the National Anthem for the Braves again in September. Maybe we can do the dinner thing once more!!

just take both hands, grab a boob in each one..... and LIFT.... oh... you are talking about something else entirely.

i guess if i move around seductively and make awesome looking poses.... I'll bet you get MORE than a chuckle!!

MMM HMMMMM! I can see you in her outfit, cape and gold bracelets, and standing in that HOT pose with her fists on her hips... Steve Trevor was always a dork though.

Well, to be honest, I've never been blessed by going into a VS to try on things. Somehow they just don't look right on me.

not me - no leakage here. I know that immediate restriction may be caused by intermediate swelling that subsides after a brief time (a couple of days).

Wow... I've had the band over a year, and I'm not pregnant yet!! All I can say is "WHEW"!!! Congrats on your news!!

Here is one additional thought: I've told all my immediate family to NOT begin the Heimlich manuever, or allow anyone else in the vicinity to initiate it should I begin an episode. I don't want pressure from my lower pouch pushing upwards against the band restriction causing a "pop goes the weasel" scenario. I don't know the medical accuracy of my thoughts, but... I don't want the Heimlich in case of a PB.

Welcome to the band world! You've experienced a major PB. (At least that's what I called them). Being banded takes a little adjustment. Smaller bites helps a ton. Try using a knife and fork for a while on solids, and get accustomed to cutting them in small pieces. I did exactly what you did with pizza.. I loved to 'scarf' pizza... NOT ANYMORE!! For help in a situation like that... don't drink... the fluids wash the particle deeper into the stuck position. Try walking around. That's the first thing I try. Someone in here, evette I believe it was, had a similar issue early in her banding. I suggest you search for the thread where she discussed it, and many people gave her excellent ideas. Be careful with 'ripped' foods - I call them that - foods that you hold with your hands and your teeth rip bites off. HBs, sub sandwiches, etc... because we "big" people tend to rip LARGE quantities in each bite (out of habit).

I am sincere when I say I do NOT regret it for ONE MINUTE. The trip, though there have been small hurdles, is worth them. I know TOO many people suffering through diets who have not been successful. They hurt themselves, starve themselves, then go back to normal behaviors and waste all the pain and suffering and the weight comes back. Robbyn, I've had no "pain" per se. When I eat my 8 chicken wings, I am FULL, just like I've been through Christmas dinner's two servings. I FEEL full, so I dont WANT to eat more. I haven't had a cola in a year, and I don't miss them (except once in a while with a great pizza). If you are debating in within yourself, know that *I* would have done it twenty years ago, knowing what I know now. Without a doubt. Dr. Ortiz was an excellent choice for my surgeon, and I recommend local people who talk to me to him. Good luck with your decision! If you opt for the band, you'll be making a post like this in a year's time!!

the dynamic in this forum sometimes changes without a specific instance. I would post about things *I* had done, and get scolded because they weren't what someone else thought I should do. Well, i needed support, not lectures; I needed confidence and encouragement, not criticisms. I dont think the people were necessarily rude on purpose; it's just that some people respond to different stimuli (soft tones vs yelling, positive statements vs fussing, etc) and we saw all types in here. This goes back as long as a year and a half for me; and when people CONSIDERING the surgery saw all the issues, it may have scared some people off. I hope this generation of posters are positive to each other, supporting and not condemning, enthusiastic and praising. Our journey with the band is a LIFE-LONG journey, and we walk together whether we post or not!! Live well! eat smartly! And lose LOTS!!! Bill

That stinging pain was AWFUL... I've had lots of injuries, but that one was something new.... and like you said, it disappeared shortly... There is no way I'm going to deprive myself of tastes to lose weight, and then just add it back when I finally start "eating" again. I'm glad it's working for you, too!

ignore it. someone put a spambot into the bb system. hopefully it wont happen again. The delete function works better than getting upset about it. Whenever new technology surfaces with wonderful applications, some bright young kids are going to figure a way to hack it, steal it, spam it or send a virus through it. Life is good!

Naww.... i was talking about the pic in the left corner... where we can see her cute smile in the blue checkered top... not the half nekky pics...... Someone thought i was talking about the TT pics... I had to straighten them out!

Kimmie!!! I love the new pic!! You're even MORE of a doll than you were in the last one!!

Lisa, you're fab. No doubts here. Just awesomely fabulous. Maybe one day we can meet... that would be nice. MONA! I'm on facebook every night. Where've you been hiding? It's been a while. Things are well, life is good, the summer vacation is six weeks away....... : ) Mindy... miss you!! How've you been, sweetie? Ute... as for my spanking.... BRING IT ON!!!!!!!!! Hello to you too, Julie! How is your progress going? It's been a while since I've seen you also! Denise is going to upload some new photos so you all can see how skinny she is. Before long, they are going to let her start posing in swimsuit magazines.... she's looking good!! sonogirl.. congrats on the first leg of your journey!! If your survived the three week post op, you're halfway home!! The rest of the mission is learning about sliming and PBs, and how to deal with them and move on. Sliming is a pain, just carry your napkin to the restroom "just in case" and in a few seconds, it's all over, and you're ready to go back. PBing is a little tougher, when your chest is about to explode... you'll think a little food-alien is trying to come out. Walk around for a few seconds, if that doesnt work to clear it, follow the sliming procedure by grabbing the napkin and heading to the restroom. It too, shall pass, and no little food-alien rips through. (It does feel like it once in a while, though) The smart bandsters THEN say... ok... did i eat too fast? did i chew it enough? was it in small enough pieces? What type of food was it?? (breads or cakes always make me do that unless i chew VERY SMALL pieces), etc.... LEARN from it. Bon chance, mon amie.... !!

No no no no no.... It's one of those outfits they have that, when you put it on, catches the attention of every male within 200 yards.... whether they can see you or not......

Knowing mona like i do, it's simple... It is cooties.

Lisa dear, I'm STILL going to have to "verify" your sizes... I can almost see you now in a couple of those lacey VS eyecatchers.......

willT is lost. He needs photos so he can understand what she's talking about

I will volunteer to save you ALL from Girl Scout Cookies or Girl-Guide cookies or even OREOS for that matter. Just mail all of them to me, and I will discard them for you, at no charge. Just let me know how many boxes you're sending so I'll be sure to have enough milk on hand!

Tomorrow, April 8, will be my one year bandiversary. I've thought of several things to share with those considering a band journey, those who are in the middle of a band journey, and those who've gone before me and are living a new life. 1) As of this morning, I have lost 58 pounds. Not exactly my goal after a year, but I've not pushed myself. I drink my sweetened tea with lemonade mixture instead of water. I eat what I want to eat (including ice cream if i want to) when i want to eat it. This is as close to a normal routine for me, and the success I've done so far I attribute to this method (for ME). Another person in my building (job) had a local doctor install his band, and he is yo-yo-ing with his weight because of calorie restrictions by his doctor. He lost a lot quickly, now that he can eat more foods, he is overeating. My way works for me, and is working well. 2) I had a couple of complications. Lisa advised me, and her words were golden. For more than two months, I was not able to eat without some type of PB, sliming or other reaction (many of them violent). I did not get an unfill. I see no practical purpose for paying out the wazoo for a fluoro to get a fill, just to pay again to have it removed, only to pay it again to have it filled back. That is MY belief, contrary to how others may feel, but that is ok. This issue straightened itself out, and techincally I consider my weight loss over a ninth month period so far - I'm not counting those three months because I had to eat high calorie foods in order to keep energy. The end thought was that my band area was severely agitated and I may have had a portion of the stomach move up into the band area. This is highly possible, and since that time, have had very few issues. 3) My normal meal these days is to find out what is to split a plate with someone. I love soups, and my favorite meal is a bowl of soup and a half-dozen chicken wings. That usually fills me up to the point of feeling almost stuffed. 4) Breads and cakes still cause me grief. I can handle soft breads in small quantities (little bites) but cakes and I don't get along well at all. Colas are another sacrifice. On this night one year ago, I had my last soft drink at the Lucerna. I've not had one since, and honestly, don't miss them as bad as i thought i would. I do miss an occasional Mountain Dew at pizza time, or ball game time, but.... I love the scales much better than the colas. 5) Within 6 months of my surgery, knee pains subsided, and back pains were greatly relieved. I can run once more, and last night, at a ball game, i even had a triple.... that's my first one in YEARS... It felt great to NOT be limited by my size. My goal calls for me to lose 32 more pounds, and that should make life new for me. I don't have a model body like several of the gorgeous women who show their photos, but I'm loving all the compliments from people who havent seen me in a while. That is worth the price of the surgery ALONE. 6) I wish I could wind the clock backwards and have this surgery 20 years ago. It has made a significant change in my life, and how i view myself, and opportunities for ME to have a normal lifestyle. If you are a person contemplating lap band surgery, DO IT. DO IT ASAP. I have NO regrets other than 'I wish I had done it sooner'. 7) My experience with Dr. Ortiz: I was treated immaculately from day one until the day I left Tijuana. The staff at the surgical center were professional, courteous, and excellent to work with. The center itself was modern, extremely clean and sanitary, and comfortable. 8) My experience with fill doctors: several of the people who post here met together one Saturday. After we all had a fill, we went out to eat and had a great time getting to know each other off this board. Some of us even moved over to Facebook, and maintain contact there. I went to two fill locations; Atlanta (Darlene is wonderful, and does an excellent job) and Charlotte - Denver NC. the doctor there asked me if we "could be a little agressive to see how things go". I said "go for it!" and I am glad I did. I've maintained a slow loss since that day - MLK day '09. I suppose I could get another fill now, but I'm happy with the rate of loss and the limited adverse reactions. 9) I didn't follow the "rules" to the letter, and I did NOT have a band slippage. I did consider Wendy's chili a liquid soup more than a solid, and it saved me in times of distress. It tastes good, too! LOL! In the past when I posted this, I got all sorts of grief, but I was posting honestly about what *I* did to address my issues. There were days, early on, where the chili was HEAVENLY. I did not challenge the "rules"; I did not go out the first week after surgery and have a steak (oh yes... I WANTED to), I lived off puddings and jellos and clearer soups. 10) I only panicked once. One morning, less than a month after my surgery, I leaned over to dry my leg after showering and i felt as if my side were ripped in half - a severe stinging pain. I had stressed the port area, and I've had no problems with it, but that week after I first felt that pain... I thought I still had a scalpel in there - only when I bent over like that. I used the common sense approach. I didn't bend over like that much after that for a long time. 11) This board: There were times when I posted regularly for the first months after surgery. Personalities began to clash, and unfortunately a large number of my surgical-generation posters left. I often wonder how well those people are doing, and hope their lives have changed as much as mine has. It is tedious for us old-generation bandsters to see the same questions, discussions, comments and assistance coming up for a fourth or fifth time. There are thousands of topics started many years ago; a bit of organization by the board moderators/owners would maximize the efficiency of this board. New posters have the same questions, and if the topics were categorized, they could see that they were not alone with the issue they face, and STILL get support from the current posters. 12) The best benefit from the board for me was the support of friends. I see them seldomly now, but they were instrumental in my journey. Lisa, if you read this, you are truly a Godsend to me with your words of encouragement, support and strength. There are many more friends that helped me along each day. Get to know these people of YOUR band-generation, and share the journey TOGETHER. 13) I wish you all the strength and support for your journey that I've had during my first year. Three of us stood on the fountain and the Lucerna and did a "profile" shot where all of us show our tummies. I look at that photo occassionaly to see how big I was, and how much happier I am now. No, I won't put it on the refrigerator (I dont want anyone else to see it LOL), but i do look at it once in a while for a memory. Take Care everyone, To those on Facebook, say hello once in a while! Bill

It has been 12 days since my agressive fill, and this morning was a great day! The scale talked nicely to me, and I am at a new all time low... the last time it was this low was years ago. Thanks for the encouragement, and if your fill rep isn't being aggressive, you might want to consider it. Last night I helped myself to a cereal-bowl size serving of white chicken chili. It was awesome, and when I was full, I had eaten about half the bowl, in just a slightly longer time than the rest of the clan took to finish an entire serving. I didn't want any more. I am estimating I ate 4 to 6 oz of the chili. The soups work well at this stage, and solids are great if cut small and chewed well. I avoid breads, too except for crackers. We had a celebratory cake, and my slice was as thin as a paperclip is wide, and it was ok in very small bites. (and GOOD too). I am thankful for the agressive fill. I wish I had gone to this doctor first, and a lot of my frustrations would have been avoided. Ute!!! Good to see you!! The Roswell center is tough to schedule for me these days... talk to you soon!!

hello old timers! I am approaching my 10 month banding anniversary. Like many others, I was getting little results with little fills until I went to a new fill center, due to scheduling issues with my normal one. The Doc there looked at my results so far, and said simply "You paid too much not to be getting the most from your band. Would you be willing to be a bit more aggressive with your fill?" and I said YES. my fill record is: 1st fill 5 cc 2nd fill 1.0 cc 3rd fill .4 cc and then, on January 19 1.4 cc (total 7.8 cc) and I've lost 5 pounds this week, and not been hungry ONCE. I made minor adjustments to my eating habits, and enjoyed any food I wanted, including an ice cream or two. My quantity is the significant change. I'm full after a bowl of soup, or a couple of soft shell tacos. And I mean FULL. It feels GOOD to step on the scale every morning, and see the numbers appear that I saw YEARS ago... Be patient, and be willing to be aggressive with your fills. Excelsior!!!