robbynnoel

(((((((((((((((((((((Hugs Everyone)))))))))))))))))))))))) Today was my first fill. My surgery was over 2.5 months ago but since my husband and I did a major relocation (we moved from San Francisco to Dallas) I postponed my first fill until now. Dana was fab and gave me info on a local fill doctor. I'm very happy. The doctor's (Dr. Jay) nurse gave me his lapband packet for a reference, which was a great refresher. Especially since I had packed Dr. Ortiz's info away and I don't have access to the box...yikes! The fill process was much simpler than I thought it was going to be. I was in what looked like a surgery room. I laid on a table, my stomach was X-Rayed and during the fill I drank the chaulky liquid. The liquid had no taste...like water, but the texture was chaulky. I received 1.5 cc. I was told to do clear liquids today and begin full liquids for a week. I was up a bit from my lowest home weigh of 224. Today I was 235 but I was weighed with boots and jeans on. Also, I will admit that I've been in what I can only call a relapse. For about 3 weeks I've broken every lap band rule possible. One after another after another after another, so all things considered, I'm pleased with 235 and I know it will only go down from there. I'm motivated today and I'm ready to go back to the rules and really take care of the band. BTW, I remember someone posted Dr. Ortiz gave them a Realize Band so I assumed I had one too. The doctor confirmed today I did have a "lap band" not the Johnson and Johnson Realize Band. Onward and upward.

(((((((((((((((((((((((((Carrie))))))))))))))))))))))))) Thank you so much for your reply. I'm in "I've fallen and I can't get up mode" but I know I'll feel better tomorrow. You're doing so well. I'm so proud of you. xo

(((((((((((((((Hugs Everyone))))))))))))))) Sorry I've been so quiet. I had to wait for my first fill because I relocated from San Francisco to North Dallas (Frisco) Texas. I fell off the band wagon about 3 weeks ago and I haven't mentally been able to committ "yet" but tomorrow I'll have no choice. Hey, that's what fills are for, right? I've gained back some but I'm not heavier than I was on my surgery date so I'm calling it a victory. My surgery was way way way back in May. Sending love, motivation and skinny vibes to all. xo

(((((((((((((((((((((((((Butterfly))))))))))))))))))))))) I'm so sorry. My heart goes out to you. I was thinking what you were, that the numerous attempts to access your port may have caused the problem. I wish I had the ability to write something so profound it would take your pain and hurt away. Your situation has me stunned and without words myself. I can't even imagine how you must feel. Hugs. Please keep us posted. xo

((((((((((((((((((Hugs Everyone))))))))))))))))))) Yes...TOM is time of month. I normally gain about 6 lbs of water during that time and the rest is due to the fact I don't need my blood pressure meds in the same doses as I did in the past because of the weight I've been able to lose. A win all the way around.

((((((((((((((((((Hugs Everyone)))))))))))))))) I have a story that I've found some humor in. I used to weigh and measure for a living. In my office I had a cartoon of a scale. In the cartoon two children were standing by the scale and one is shown whispering to the other. "Don't get on it. Each time my mom does she cries." I'm trying to stay away from the scale right now. I'm only a month from surgery and I know enough about myself to know that for me personally I could weigh myself a dozen times a day and more often than not, a bad weigh could put me into a funk all day long, and end up taking me off my program. I weighed about 10 days ago. I weighed about 224 at the time. I wished it was more but I shrugged my shoulders and said to myself "Why did I do that?" and tried not to let the number put me into a funk. So we went to Disneyland, I was sick, I stopped taking my blood pressure meds which included not one but two duiretics (I'm feeling great now btw) and yesterday I was laying in bed and my head was trying to convince me to step on the scale. Now I'm a logical person. I know that even when we do our best that our bodies play tricks on us. I told myself that since I stopped taking the duiretic I would not see a loss. I'm not stupid, I've skipped (on accident) medication days in the past and I always gain about 2 lbs a day until I start to take them again but I convinced myself that it was better to hop on. BTW I'm a food tracker, so I log every bite, lick and taste I put into my mouth. All the more reason for me to stay off the scale since I'm not taking a duiretic that I've taken for 3 years. Ahhhhhhhhhhhh I had gained 9 lbs. 9 lbs...are you kidding me? I was instantly reminded of why for me it's best to just stay away. I managed to get myself out of the funk I was in and I went for a mall walk to a friend. Someone has to keep the economy going. (I didn't buy anything...lol) While we were walking I felt a pain in my stomach and I "knew" instantly. Yep...that was a TOM cramp. Now the 9 lb gain makes sense. I'm glad I have the band. Trust me...if I wouldn't have had the band I would have went on an eating spree and consumed my weight in food to respond to the scale. I did binge a little, but my binge added up to a 1500 calorie day. I can't believe I binged to the tune of 1500 calories...only 300 calories over what I normally consume. How weak is that? Thank god for the band.

(((((((((((((((((((((((Samantha))))))))))))))))))))) Hugs to you. This is wonderful news. I'm so excited for you. You have made wonderful progress and I'm inspired by your success.

((((((((((((((((((Vancouver))))))))))))))))))))))) I'm so excited for you! I'll be thinking of you tomorrow. Please keep us posted. xo

((((((((((((((((((Butterfly))))))))))))))))) Hugs to you. I'm so sorry to hear that you are in pain and that your port has moved. I do have a friend who had to have a surgical adjustment made to her band after her first fill. I saw her a few weeks after the second surgery. She was very confident in her doctor, the choice to have surgery and the lapband... She has always indicated to me she'd do it all again in a heart beat. Hang in there. Please update us when you can. xo

((((((((((((((((((((Benji)))))))))))))))))))) Sending you well wishes tomorrow. Oh wait, you posted at 2:30 am so that means you're at the hospital and you've probably already had your surgery. I can't wait to get skinny together. xo

((((((((((((((Luna))))))))))))))) I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to scare you. To be honest I was over speaking to be funny. A month ago, I posted a link to photos taken of me the day of the surgery (a few hours after) and the following day. I'm smiling and laughing and very happy. I even went shopping the next day. I kind of felt as if the wind had been knocked out of me, or like what it feels like to try to catch your breath.

(((((((((((((((((IrishRN))))))))))))))))) Welcome to Onderland! What great results you had in your first month being banded. That is fab what you've accomplished before your fill! My first fill is scheduled for August. I'm moving so I thought it would be easier to do the fill after the move. I am still in the honeymoon stage with the band where I feel as if I'm full most of the time but as the days go by, little by little I'm getting some hunger back. I'm sure I'll be so ready when the time comes in August.

((((((((((((((((Cleo))))))))))))) This is wonderful news! Thank you for sharing.

(((((((((((((((((Alia))))))))))))))))))))) My first appointment (pre op part one) was similar. It cost $325 (regardless of my decision) and I filled out some pre health paper work. The doctor took a photo and weighed me. At the time I was 258 and he let me know I qualified for surgery. My husband spent the entire time with me and then we went into the doctors office and spoke for about 60 minutes on all of my options (my original surgeon did all 4 procedures). He brought in a lapband patient and allowed me to talk with her directly. She was in the office for a fill...I don't think he normally does that, but maybe he does coordinate fills where he can bring in a patient to talk to a potential patient. He then gave me a lunch bag, a water bottle, a login to a lapband support forum, vitamin samples to taste and a card that allowed me to order children side portions in restaurants. He also gave me paperwork requesting blood work, an appointment with my regular md and an appointment with a therapist as well as my post op prescriptions (4 of them). I guess I should note that I was self pay... I was told I could begin my pre op diet at any time and I was encouraged to lose as much weight as possible even though my surgery had not yet been scheduled and would not be scheduled until after the blood work was completed. I met with my md a few days later. Since I was self pay, my md was not in the same hmo as my selected surgeon. My md weighed me and I was 253 (because my surgeon said I could lose as much weight as I wanted) which believe it or not meant I was no longer eligible for surgery. It didn't matter because I was eligible when I first weighed...but I did think it was interesting that I was "that close". So that was that and I didn't see my surgeon again until surgery day. My md charged $300 for my appointment (self pay because it was for weight loss surgery) and the therapist charged $325 as well. The prescriptions were over $200. The surgery price I was quoted was $7,500 for the surgery and $7,500 for 5 years of follow up and fills. This is a long story, but there was a complication in the operating room...I had an allergy to the general anaesthesia and I went into anaphylactic shock so there was no surgery. I started to feel uncomfortable with my doctor and I now weighed 237 so I couldn't get a US doctor to look at me...that's when I switched doctors and went to the OCC. I booked my surgery over the phone and did the pre ops the day before the surgery. I was very nervous about another operating room scare but they were very careful with me and before they conked me out for good in the OR the anaesthesia doctor said "Robbyn, we've administered the medications. I can tell how far it's traveled into your body and I can see you have no sign of any reactions. We're putting you to sleep now." And then I woke up and the only reason I believed I had the surgery is because it felt like an elephant had stepped on my stomach. But that pain goes away rather quickly. Good luck!

Whooops...I forgot to answer your Maalox question. I'm not an expert on this but this may help. Many moons ago, in a land I like to call pre op part one I was told to take 3 tbsp of Maalox at noon the day before my surgery and drink clear liquids "only" for 1 day. Then stick close to your home. xo

((((((((((((((((((((Sabrina))))))))))))))))))) Wow...all of my friends are becoming so skinny! I'm so proud of you. I don't know how I survived the liquid diet either...I honestly have no idea. I can't even imagine doing that again. EVER! lol You look amazing. I love the reunion photos. Just wait...someone, some day will call you a skinny "b" thinking they are insulting you and you will hug and kiss them. I'm so waiting for that day. Hang in there. This is a long journey. I believe in you.

((((((((((((((((((Carrie)))))))))))))))))) You are so cute. You are doing an amazing job and you've come so far. Maybe you should take a trip to Victoria Secret so you can see how adorable your figure is? I bet your beating your SO off with a stick! A bedroom date to celebrate your continued success would be the perfect reward for both of you. xo

((((((((((((((((Carrie)))))))))))))))))) Hugs to you. I've been there. My lowest weight in the last five years was 200.2. Oh I remember it so well. Then I went on a business trip to a place with cocktails (complimentary) each evening and that was the end of that. Trust me. You weigh under 200 lbs. a trip to the nail salon for a nail clipping and supercuts for a trim and you're there. YOU ARE IN ONDERLAND. I love how you called it the terrible 2's. Too funny. If I had to do it all over again (and eventually I will...) I'd give myself the victory and tuck the scale away for a week or two or three ...whatever feels right... and make my new goal 189! xo

((((((((((((((((BenjiGirl))))))))))))))))) Hugs to you. I hate to admit this but I was far from perfect during the pre op diet. I was a mess of emotion and I just wasn't mentally able to have the strength of my convictions to follow as it was laid out for me. I have read several boards, I don't recall a post from anyone who said they got to the operating room, they were cut open and then they were closed up because the surgery couldn't be performed. My best advise is to hang in there. Don't beat yourself up and follow as closely as you can from this moment forward. The water weight will come off fast fast fast so it's not too late to really put a dent in. If you do find yourself swaying...for now, stay as far away from carbs and liquor as possible. I'm not an expert by any stretch of the imagination but I suspect that what you consume the days, hours prior to your surgery is far more important than following the pre op the first couple of days. Hugs to you. I believe in you. Please keep in touch. xo

(((((((((((((((((((Susan))))))))))))))))))))) I'm so excited for you and your upcoming band date. I can absolutely relate to what you're going though. I have to admit, I'm 1 month post op and I'm so glad I had the surgery. I feel wonderful plus I weigh less, what could be better? xo Please keep us updated.

((((((((((((((((((((((((((Denise))))))))))))))))))))))))) Hugs! I'm so excited for you. Please let us know how everything is progressing. xo

(((((((((((((((((((((Carrie))))))))))))))))))))))) Hugs to you. I have to give you credit for me having the strength to put away my scale. I think about your "living my life" post and it just made so much sense to me. It was like you were talking to me. Thank you for being so supportive. Now that I feel better my appetite has come back so I am getting to the point where I can "see" myself being ready for a fill. I scheduled an appointment with Dana's doctor in Dallas the first week of August. It feels so good to finally feel like myself and I'm so proud of myself for following through and getting the lapband. There are so many things that happened that would have made it so easy to have opted not to have the surgery (which I did try to cancel about a week before the big day because I was scared). Thank god for you and everyone else who has just been so supportive of me and everyone elses journey.

(((((((((((((((((Shelby))))))))))))))))) OMG you skinny thing. I love love love the new avitar photo. You are so glam. I can't even begin to explain how utterly sobering it is (for lack of a better term) to be able to reduce my morning medication ritual. From a 20,000 foot level, after losing 80 lbs total, it makes sense but since I've been on this journey for 2.5 years, it's hard to remember that when the weight came off slow it was hard to really see the changes that my body was making. Althought at this time last year I was lighter (then I ballooned up and thus decided to get the band) the weight did fall back off very quickly over this past month so it helps me understand a little more why...plus to be honest, I may have weighed 212 this time last year (a little lower than I am now...but not much) but I wasn't eating high quality foods. I rarely cooked at home and so on. Now I cook at home much of the time and because of that, plus the band rules of protein first, I'm making far better food choices. 1200 calories is 1200 calories but I was the master of filling a 1200 calorie day with 12 100 calorie snacks before I got banded.

(((((((((((((((((((((Tracey))))))))))))))))))))) Hugs! I'm so happy to hear from you. Add me as a friend on facebook (link is in my signature) if you haven't already so I can see the pictures. I'm sure you look amazing. I wish I would have taken pictures of you and Lena in the hotel. I'm also glad you lost the water weight you gained the few days after transitioning to solids. I think most of us have that happen. I think the small gain has to do with the transition from weeks of virtually zero calories to solids. I knew you'd lose it quickly but seeing the scale spike up can be a downer. Please keep in touch! xo

(((((((((((((((((((Hugs Everyone))))))))))))))))))) It's one month post op for me. Wow...I can't believe it's been a month. I'll be honest, up until a few days ago, I felt miserable. So miserable I allowed myself to completely forget why I took this journey in the first place. More often than not I was in a serious state of regret. Then again...I'm probably a big baby. I was so dizzy I couldn't stand for any length of time, not even long enough to do dishes. I really couldn't do anything. Thank god my husband and family was supportive. I don't have a regular job right now...it's a good thing, because I seriously couldn't function. I ended up catching the flu (which allowed me to explain away the dizzyness) and because we had pre paid for a family vacation in Disneyland we went even though I really wasn't up to it. My first day at the park (last Thursday) I was so miserable I couldn't even stand in a line for any ride (and I did try). I was just at the end of my rope. I emailed Dr. Miranda and told her my symptoms and she emailed me back (and copied Dr. Ortiz) and said my symptoms were similar with low blood pressure and to contact my general doctor locally. Ding Ding Ding...talk about a light bulb going off over my head. So here's the gist. Several years ago when I weighed 294 I was diagnosed with high blood pressure. I was prescribed not one but two different meds (both durietics). Now the other symptoms that were similar to that of low blood pressure are that of chronic dehydration (that's what my friends thought) so here I am, 400 miles away from my doctor and miserable. I decided to not take my blood pressure meds (because of the durietic too) for a day to see if that helped at all and remarkably enough...it did. So now I feel great. I will see my doctor in the next couple days. I'm not saying my high blood pressure has been completely cured...I'm sure I need to take a smaller dose or just take one of the two meds but either way, I do need to see my doctor to get a good handle on what my blood pressure is today a few days off the meds and re-evaluate what I need. I can't believe it but I'm so happy. My ankles are not swollen at all which normally happens when I miss a day of my meds. The thing I haven't done though is get on the scale though. I don't want to lose my motivation to follow the rules of this program especially now that I've really seen the value of the band...and here's the biggest thing... I am so happy I got banded! So very happy. I am still scared about the first fill though.