lunalady

So, slowly but surely, the weight is coming off. I'm at about 40 pounds currently, with two fills. I've made an appointment for my third fill; it's scheduled for Thursday, April 8. I'll leave here at oh-dark-thirty that morning, go to SLC for the fill, then spend the night in SLC. Next morning I'll get up and head up to IF to spend the weekend with my son, my daughter-in-law and my not-yet-born (but will have been born by the time I get there) grandson. I am *so* excited to be going! My first grandson, to go with my two granddaughters! My granddaughers are from my middle child, my oldest daughter. This new baby will be the first for my son, who will be 30 in July. I'm having a tough time imagining him being a daddy! The Dr. told me that I probably wouldn't get good restriction until my third fill, which has so far proven true. I can eat bagels still. I'm hoping the third fill is the charm! I have three boxes of clothes to give to my sisters now. My one sister knows I had surgery, but the other one doesn't. I told the sister who doesn't know that I'd 'grown out of' my pants. Little does she know that I meant I've grown mentally and emotionally, not physically. She's gonna be shocked when she sees me. Laura went to Cuidad Juarez and had her surgery two weeks ago. The Dr. there filled up her band with 2 cc's of saline, so she already has really good restriction. I feel like I got cheated...I have had to pay over $700 more than she did for the same amount of restriction because I've had to pay for two fills and the flouro for them. I *know* I shouldn't feel like that, but I do, dangit!

Red, I *love* that! "Roadside assistance"...how perfectly apt! Way to go...I'm telling you, between Carrie's 'Don't look in the rearview mirror...press the gas and haul a$$' and your 'roadside assistance' comments, today has been a banner day for me, gathering little quips that help along the way. Thanks, you guys!! Big hugs to all,

I *completely* agree with everyone, Carrie! You look absolutely fan-friggin-tastic, girl! Wow!! You are totally an inspiration! Way to go!!!! Big hugs,

Thank you, everyone, for your replies! I appreciate all the feed-back... I received my first fill a week ago today. I was very impressed with the Dr. and his staff. The Dr. gave me the maximum amount they can give that doesn't void the warranty, which is 2 cc's. I have the 10 cm Inamed band that will hold 5 cc's of saline (6 cc's if you count what's in the tubing). I had the fill done under flouro, since it was my first fill and all. The Dr. told me that my port is buried pretty deep (which could just be his *nice* way of saying that there's a ton of fat to go through in order to *get* to the port, I don't know!) and he advised me to have all my fills done with flouro because of how deep my port is. I was on warm clear liquids for 48 hours but I did cheat and have a bite of cheese on day two. It went down with no problems at all, but I did chew like a mad woman, just to be on the safe side! I didn't really feel like I had any restriction. Then I tried to eat some chicken a few days later...I was starving and I ate entirely too fast and I didn't chew my chicken up well. Yeah, big mistake, there! All of you who have *been there, done that* know what's coming next....yup, the big ol' PB. It was ugly, but I was sure thankful I was home when it happened! Trust me, I certainly don't want it to happen again anytime soon, that's for sure! I'll probably work with this fill for a couple of months and then go back to SLC for my second fill. My fills are going to have to be budgeted a little bit more carefully now, since I'll have another $99 for the flouro AND another $200 for two nights in a motel to worry about, in addition to the cost of the basic fill. One day at a time, though, right? *smiles softly* Oh! The *best* news that day was that when I weighed in that afternoon (in street clothes and in the middle of the afternoon) I weighed 2 pounds less than I weighed that morning, naked! Woo-hooooo!!

I apparently suffer from a serious case of the "not me's". You know how it goes...you'll read about some aspect of the band and you'll think to yourself, "Oh, I *know* better than that! That won't happen to me...not me!" First fill was great. 2 cc's of saline. My port is pretty deep and the Dr. recommends that every fill be done with flouro. Figures! Now every fill will be an additional $99, but I am trying to look at it from the standpoint that it's better to be safe than sorry. So...I didn't think I had much restriction, what with it being my first fill and all. So I ate some chicken for dinner last night. And I waited to eat until I was starving, which I *know* is a no-no! So, yeah, I was hungry as hell and I ate entirely too fast and I didn't chew my chicken well enough. My first visit with a PB was pretty exciting. NOT!! Apparently I totally thought that I would *never* forget the rules and I would *never* forget to chew well and I would *never* eat too fast and most especially, I would *never* have to suffer through a PB. Boy, was I wrong! I'm going to Wal-mart on my lunch hour to buy zip-lock bags to keep in my car. And some baby wipes. Too bad they don't sell brain cells!

I'm having my fill at the Fill Centers USA facility in Salt Lake City, UT. Not all Fill Centers USA have flouro, but the facility in SLC does, so I'm having it done there (with flouro, of course).I'm going to be there for my Scentsy convention, so I'm totally killing two birds with one stone! Woo-hooo!!

Good afternoon, all. I have my first fill in about 24 hours and I have a question that I'm hoping you more 'experienced' lap-banders can answer for me. I know that it's unrealistic to think that I will be reaching my 'sweet spot' on the first fill. Or even on the second fill, for that matter. Maybe not on the third, either! I have a friend who only had about 60 pounds to lose to reach her goal weight and she's only ever had two fills in the three years since she was banded. Do you think that the heavier you are to start with, the more fills it will take before you reach your sweet spot? Have you noticed that there is a correlation between how much weight a person has to lose and how many fills it will take to reach your sweet spot? Thoughts, anyone? Thank you in advance!

I don't suppose your nurse would consider moving to Boise, Idaho, would she? lol Seriously, you look great, Denise!

Hi, Robyn!! I just want to say that you are an inspiration to me. Even when you feel like you've broken every lap-band rule that there is, you aren't afraid of taking responsibility for that and you get right back on the forum again. Good for you, girl! I have my first fill scheduled for tomorrow afternoon, so your post is *definately* helpful to me. Thank you for giving me an idea of what's going to happen. I appreciate you and your wonderfully honest (sometimes painstakingly so) posts.

I'm starting to get very excited about my weight-loss journey. My first fill is tomorrow afternoon. I've lost close to 20 pounds since I started and I can tell the difference in how my clothes fit me. My one *problem child* incision is healing well, finally. I've been reading on the forums and in blogs about people getting nauseous because they were eating too much, too fast. When I first starting reading about it, I totally thought they were high! How in the *world* is that even possible? And then...this morning...I got a first-hand look at it. Yup, I got nauseous from eating too much, too fast. And not even a speck of saline in my band yet, no less! I had fixed myself a fresh fruit smoothie for breakfast (a banana, some cantaloupe, a few grapes, some vanilla protein powder and milk) and I apparently had too much of it, too fast. I was nauseous as hell...I'm *still* nauseous and this was two whole hours ago! So, I guess I am making some improvements, slowly and surely. I am starting to look at my food as fuel, not as a 'feel-good' present I give myself. Whoda thunk *that* would ever happen????!!!!

Hi, Jen. I have to take Lodine every day for back inflammation. I had to stop (of course) a week before surgery and then I waited until I was out of the 21-day liquids before I started taking taking them again. I have to take them with milk. So here's what I do: I make myself a Carnation Instant Breakfast with milk and add a scoop of protein powder to it. I put it in a glass and use a straw to drink it. Then I cut my pills up so the pieces are the size of pencil erasers. I take a sip of my breakfast, then one at a time, I take my pills. So far, I've had no problems. Hope that helps! Hugs!

I couldn't agree more!

Wow, Stormy! Gratz on moving up to level two! I *totally* want a pole now! I'll be the only 50 year old grandma on the block who has one, but I think it would be awesome! Keep up the excellent work and keep us updated with the classes, please! Hugs!

I am very pro breast-feeding, personally. I breast-fed each of my three babies and those quiet times of bonding with them are some of my most cherished memories. If it were me, I would definately breast-feed and THEN go in for a fill. Hugs!

Congratulations, Sabrina, on being so dang close to goal you can smell it! I am super excited for you!! You'll have to let us know periodically how you're doing. Hugs!

Congratulations, Chloe, on your journey to a new you! You won't regret it, I promise!! Get some rest now and concentrate on allowing your body to heal. Remember, we are all here for you, honey! Hugs,

People are telling me that they can see a difference in me. Wow. And I haven't even had my first fill yet so I feel like I can eat just about anything. I'm making a conscious effort to watch my portion sizes, drink plenty of water, take super small bites and chew like a mad-woman, all in slow motion! The gals at the bead shop today told me that they can totally see a difference in my face, my tummy and my butt. Awesome! I just wish the scales would show me that! Honestly, I get on every Friday morning and I swear they haven't budged more than 2 or 3 ounces in two weeks now! Went out to dinner the other night with a co-worker. We each ordered the special that was a personal pizza and the salad bar. I could only eat half of my pizza and about half of my salad. And I didn't even fill my salad plate up like I normally would have done! I was pleasantly surprised, so I just took the balance of my meal home with me and had it the next night for dinner. My co-worker, on the other hand, ate three plates of salad. And she ate it so dang fast that she was slopping salad dressing all over herself. I was so put off by it all. All I could think of was that I used to look like that when I ate, too. Wow, I guess I am changing a little bit, aren't I? My incision has finally closed up and is scabbing over. I am so happy about that I can't stand it! Now that it's healed enough to scab, the healing process should progress quickly. It's a little disconcerting to me, though...apparently it happens often enough that they know exactly what to tell you to watch for and how to help it heal when you call in (panicked, I might add!) but not often enough that they feel the need to disclose it in the post-op instructions. I'm just so thankful that I didn't get an infection in it! I do honestly feel like I'm healing well, finally. My first fill (with flouro) is scheduled for next Wednesday at 2:30. I'll be staying in SLC until Saturday morning when I come home, so if I *do* need to go in for a minor unfill, I'll be able to do so. Yup, things are getting better for me. I may be meeting M's son tonight....he's due in from Wales this afternoon.

I'm 5' 9". At my heaviest, I weighed 284 and wore size 2X.

Hi, Pammie! No, I was not banded at the OCC. I was banded in Tijuana, but not at the OCC. Different hospital, different Dr.

I had my surgery at 4:17 on a Thursday afternoon and went back to work Monday afternoon for about 3.5 hours. Wish I could've stayed home. They have no clue at work that I've had surgery, so I had to completely hide the exhaustion and the soreness (and the fact that I was all bloated and swollen!)from my co-workers. I also discovered the day after I'd started back to work that the stitches had ripped out of one of my incisions, so that was difficult. It is *just now* healed enough to scab and Thursday will be my six-week anniversary. Plus there's the fact that I'm almost 50 years old. I'm sure that had I been a trifle younger and not had to deal with ripped out stitches, my recovery period would have been way shorter than it was. It took me a full two weeks before I could honestly say that I felt better.

I scheduled my first fill yesterday. It will be done by Fill Centers USA in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, August 12th at 2:30, using flouro. I live about six hours away, so I'll get up early, drive down there, get my fill, check in at my motel, and then go check in for the Scentsy convention. I know I'll be on liquids during convention, but that's okay. I'd rather get my fill on Wednesday and then have to be on liquids during convention (and know that I can go back to Fill Centers USA for an unfill if need be) than wait til convention is over with and I'm on my way out of town to get the fill. Fill Centers USA has a 72-hour unfill policy so I'd rather be safe than sorry. My wounds are healing, slowly. I'll be so stinkin' glad when I don't have to cover up the one with gauze, though! Going through a fortune in first aid supplies, but I'd rather do that than risk infection in the wound. Going over to my daughter's and son-in-law's tonight for dinner and to love on my two grand-babies. I'm taking Popeye's chicken for them and mashed potatoes/gravy and red beans & rice for me. I'm debating if I want to try to take a bite of chicken tonight. I haven't had any trouble with the diet restrictions, but today is day one of 'soft' for me. I think if I chew the chicken up really well, I'll be okay. I hope! My grand-babies have a new trampoline and they want Grandma to come over so they can show me their new 'tricks'. Have I mentioned how much I love and adore my grand-babies? They are the most beautiful, awesome little girls in the whole world. One will be four in October and the other one, her sister, will be three in January and I love them both to pieces! I may be introducing my English Gentleman to them tonight, as well. I'll see. Depends a lot on what happens during the day today and how much I get accomplished. Having a party tomorrow night at my house, so I have a ton of housework that needs to get done tomorrow before the party. I've already decided that if I *don't* get it all done, that's just too damn bad! If they want a perfect house to have a party in, they need to have the party somewhere else than mine! *I'm* the one who just had surgery, damnit!

Wow! What a mile-stone type of day this is, so far. Michael's son is leaving to go to visit his Aunt in Wales for three weeks. Stephen is due home from Iraq this afternoon for two weeks. Michael H.'s bday is today. Austin's bday is today. Found out that Derek (ex-stepson) got married. Wow!! I'm getting anxious about eating soft foods. That happens on Friday. I'm ready. Went to a WLS support group last night at one of the local hospitals. There were LOTS of people there doing the 'waiting' game. There were a few success stories to be seen and shared. Seems like it's way easier for people to say their WLS didn't work for them than it is for them to use the WLS as the tool it was intended to be. Was I ever that focused on failure? God, I hope not! Why are some people focused on failure and then others are focused on success? They celebrate even the smallest of successes... I believe that if you can visualize it in your mind, you can create it in person. Apparently not everyone shares my train of thought, though. Or maybe they have spent so many years being focused on the negative that they've forgotten what it feels like to have hope and to be focused on the successes?

Karen, sometimes being able to visualize the grossness is EXACTLY what we need in order to take care that we NOT have to go through it ourselves! I, for one, appreciate it! Thank you for an accurate picture being painted.

Congratulations on becoming pregnant!! And please try to remember that you are now MUCH more conscious of your body, and what you need to survive in a healthy way, thanks to the band. That is a *huge* step in NOT making the next eight months a 'pig-fest'! You are so much more on top of things now! Being aware is the first step, right? I'm sure you'll do fine...concentrate on eating healthy for yourself and your little one...and every once in a while, pat yourself on the back for a job well done when you recognize where you'd be *without* the band!! Hugs!!

Awesome, Simone! You go, girl!!